ISLAMABAD, Dec 11: Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan on Tuesday adjourned hearing of a suo motu case which was fixed for Jan 3, three days before his retirement.

M.A. Farooqi, Registrar Supreme Court, on Tuesday announced that an application was filed by the Attorney General of Pakistan seeking more time for the preparation of the case. The Chief Justice adjourned the case to some date of March, 2002.

The SC announcement said: “In suo motu case relating to directions for regulating the trials and appeals under the Anti-Terrorism Law, pursuant to the Supreme Court’s decision in Sh. Liaquat Hussain’s case, this case was fixed for hearing on Jan 3, 2002.

“Pursuant to the application made by the Attorney General ...seeking more time for preparation, the case has been adjourned to a date in office in the month of March, 2002.”

The hearing of suo motu case just three days prior to chief justice’s retirement had become controversial as it was viewed by the Bar leaders that it was an innovative method of getting farewell from the bar.

Pakistan Bar Council, in its meeting on Saturday, had decided not to appear before a bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan on Jan 3, 2002.

The PBC also asked the other bar associations not to appear before the Chief Justice on January 3 in suo motu case pertaining to directives for regulating the trials and appeals under the Anti-Terrorism Laws.