ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: The Supreme Court on Friday again issued notice to the attorney general to explain the latest development regarding the constitution of Court of Appeal for the Northern Areas.

The Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, Justice Javed Iqbal and Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar issued these instructions in an appeal filed by Pervez Iqbal through his counsel senior advocate Sheikh Mohammad Akram.

The apex court disposed of his petition earlier on the assurance of the attorney general that the court of appeal would be established within 30 days. However, Deputy Attorney General Hafiz S.A. Rehman told reporters that the summary for constitution of Court of Appeal for the Northern Areas had been sent to the Prime Minister Secretariat and after the approval of the summary, the court of appeal would be established without any further delay.

On the last hearing, the attorney general informed the Supreme Court that the summary for establishing Court of Appeal for the Northern Areas had been approved and it would be set up very soon.

Pervez Iqbal, who was arrested on January 21, 2001 on corruption charges, was given 10 years sentence by the Accountability Court Gilgit. His sentence was reduced to four years by the chief commissioner on an appeal filed by him with a fine of Rs500,000.

Mr Akram argued before the court that non-establishment of the Court of Appeal was in violation of judgment of seven-member bench of Supreme Court in Al-Jihad Trust case in which the federal government had promised to set up the court. -APP