LAHORE, Dec 21 Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry sought on Monday assistance of the attorney general and the Punjab advocate general on an application seeking rehearing of a petition demanding freezing of accounts in foreign banks and seizure of illegal assets accumulated by Pakistani political leaders.

Barrister Javed Iqbal Jaffree had moved the petition in 1997 making Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir Bhutto (late), Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Imran Khan and 22 others respondents, seeking directions for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to take necessary action to freeze their foreign bank accounts.

In 2000, the LHC disposed of the petition and referred it to NAB for redressing the grievance of the petitioner, if maintainable. Barrister Iqbal, in his application says NAB has not taken any action.

The judge asked the two state lawyers to assist the court on a point whether the court could resume hearing on a petition disposed of years ago. The next hearing date will be fixed by the court office.

Aafia case The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday adjourned until Jan 5 the hearing of a contempt petition seeking action against the government for not approaching the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to get Dr Aafia Siddiqui released and recovered.

The hearing was adjourned without any action as deputy attorney general Naveed Inayat Malik did not appear, who, on the last date, was asked to inform about the possible consequences if Pakistan moves the ICJ for the release of Dr Aafia and the ICJ rejects the plea.

The contempt petition was filed by Barrister Javed Iqbal Jaffree submitting that the court had earlier directed the government to take action for the release and repatriation of Dr Aafia, but it did not comply with court orders. He said the court had also asked the government to move the ICJ for her release, but it remained failed.

Barrister Iqbal said the government engaged a panel of US lawyers on a hefty fee for contesting the Dr Aafia case, but did not bother to move the ICJ which cost nothing.

He prayed to the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against respondents for defying court orders.

Meanwhile, the same court also adjourned until Jan 5 hearing of a petition seeking direction to preserve banks record about NRO beneficiaries and persons who got huge loans written off.

Petitioner Barrister Iqbal pleaded that all banks, which had provided loans to NRO beneficiaries or other high-ups, should be restrained from disturbing or destroying record. He apprehended that beneficiaries might use their influence to tamper or destroy record.