ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi Thursday expressed displeasure when the counsel for a party in a case sought an adjournment through the Advocate-on-Record (AOR).
A two-member bench, comprising Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, heard an appeal. The chief justice directed that the police officials who brought the case record from Khanewal be paid expenses.
Addressing the assisting lawyer, the chief justice said,“You are the AOR; we will hear you after half an hour.” The lawyer replied, “I do not have the brief, and there is a genuine issue regarding the record and the counsel has dengue, so the proceedings should be adjourned.”
At this, the chief justice said, “The other party’s lawyer is present; they can give you the brief. We will hear you after half an hour.” The chief justice added that a case could be adjourned only when there was no lawyer “but here you are present.”
He then asked the police officials present in the courtroom, “Which city have you come from?” They replied that they had come from Khanewal. Addressing them, he said, “Calculate your total travel expenses and inform us — the lawyer will pay you. Only then will the adjournment be granted.”
He remarked that the police officials were government employees and they had come to Islamabad on government expense. However, the assisting lawyer requested leniency, saying, “Sir, please be kind this time.” Later, the court adjourned the hearing for date-in-office (Indefinite period).
