ISLAMABAD: A formal understanding was apparently reached between the rival PML-N and PTI to immediately cease media talks by political leaders after the senior counsel representing the two political parties before the judicial commission, were called into Chief Justice of Pakistan Nasir-ul-Mulk’s chambers for a discussion.

Both Shahid Hamid and Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, appearing on behalf of PML-N and PTI, respectively, were called in by the chief justice to discuss how to adhere to the commission’s code of conduct.

The two men met the CJP after the commission’s attention was drawn to PTI chief Imran Khan’s media talk outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Take a look: Sound byte: ‘Judicial commission is not an inquisition’

In the hearing on April 16, the commission had set out a code of conduct by asking the media not to interview the heads or leaders of the political parties within the premises of the Supreme Court.

On the same day, political leaders were also asked to avoid making political statements or giving interviews to the media.

CJ summons counsel to chambers to discuss violations of code of conduct

“I can only say that this will never happen again,” Mr Hamid said when he was asked by eager reporters what transpired during the meeting in the CJP’s chambers.

Shahid Hamid had accused Mr Khan of intimidating a court witness during the proceedings of the commission, which had been recording the testimony of former Punjab Election Commissioner Mehboob Anwar for the several days.

At the outset of Wednesday’s hearing, Mr Hamid submitted a document which appeared to be Mr Khan’s press statement and said that he had highlighted at least four occasions where Mr Khan had described the witness as “a liar” and said that the “witness will be held accountable” in addition to claiming that a pattern of rigging in the 2013 general elections had emerged from Tuesday’s cross-examination by Mr Pirzada.

The statement is reprehensible on two counts; firstly, because it is in direct violation of the provisions of the presidential ordinance; and secondly, it amounts to interference in the working of the commission, Mr Hamid deplored.

The CJP, however, observed that the commission had taken note of this and, after a brief discussion amongst the members in the bench, observed that the commission would like to invite the two lawyers into their chambers.

Referring to the figures presented by Mr Pirzada on Tuesday to establish discrepancies between the number of registered voters and the actual number of ballot papers printed in different constituencies of Punjab, Mr Hamid said that he had consulted the top PML-N leadership and could offer to summon the district returning officers (DROs) and the returning officers (ROs) of those constituencies where excess ballot papers were printed.

The DROs and ROs can be asked by the commission to explain what factors led them to determine that the excess ballot papers should be printed, Mr Hamid said, adding that the PML-N had also identified a number of constituencies in Punjab where such deviations were made by printing ballot papers in excess of the number of registered voters.

But the chief justice asked the counsel to submit a formal application for consideration by the commission.

Further proceedings of the commission had to be postponed till Thursday after Mr Hamid and Mr Salman Akram Raja, who represents the Election Commission of Pakistan, appeared reluctant to cross-examine Mr Anwar. Mr Raja told the commission that he would be filing additional documents, and cross-examining the witness on the basis of those.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2015

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