LAHORE: A Lahore High Court’s seven-judge larger bench on Monday directed Advocate General of Punjab (AGP) Ahmad Awais to seek permission, in writing, from Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to represent the provincial government in the case pertaining to the second joint investigation team (JIT) constituted to hold a fresh probe into 2014 Model Town incident.

Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan, who headed the bench, reminded the advocate general that the bench would not hear his arguments without a written permission from the CM allowing him to represent the government in the case.

Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti, Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan, Justice Aalia Neelum, Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar, Justice Asjad Javed Ghural and Justice Farooq Haider are the other members of the bench.

The CJ recalled that Mr Awais had been proceeded against in 2019 under the contempt of court charge in the same case and Chief Minister Buzdar had stated in the court that a new law officer would represent the government.

Law officer faced contempt proceedings during previous stint

Mr Awais said he had resigned from the post and the government had appointed a new advocate general. However, after the office fell vacant, he was appointed afresh, he said and added that the order of 2019 could not be enforced now.

The bench, however, observed that an order relating to contempt proceedings against Mr Awais could be implemented after his reappearance in the case. The bench said that it would not allow the AGP to argue on behalf of the government in the case without a written permission from the CM.

The bench adjourned the hearing for a date to be fixed by the office.

Mr Awais had resigned after contempt proceedings were initiated against him by a full bench of the LHC for creating a scene in the courtroom and trying to pressurise the judges at the time of announcement of a stay order against the second JIT on Model Town incident.

Mr Awais had preferred resignation over an apology and also accused the members of the bench of committing misconduct. The three-judge full bench had later discharged the contempt proceedings after CM Buzdar appeared before it.

Khurram Rafiq and other police officials facing trial in the Model Town case had challenged the legitimacy of the second JIT.

On June 17, 2014, at least 14 people were killed and 100 others were injured when police opened fire to disperse protesting activists of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) during an ‘anti-encroachment’ operation outside the residence of its chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2020