SC issues notice to PM for attending ilf function.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court of Pakistan Monday issued a notice to Prime Minister Imran Khan for participating in a function of the Insaf Lawyers Forum (ILF) at the Convention Centre here.

A two-member bench of the apex court comprising Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Amin ud Din Khan conducted hearing of a civil matter wherein the petitioner sought time to engage a lawyer as his counsel Ahmed Awais has elevated as Advocate General (AG) of Punjab.

The bench also issued notices to the Attorney General for Pakistan, AG Punjab, Pakistan Bar Council, the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Punjab Bar Council, in-charge Convention Centre, Islamabad, and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).

Last week, Prime Minister Imran Khan had attended a ceremony of PTI-affiliated lawyers' forum at the Convention Centre. Addressing the ILF, he had said that the opposition parties' real issue with the military was that - unlike other institutions - they were unable to 'control' the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) after the agency 'found out' about their alleged corruption. He also spoke about the tenures of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, saying that the PML-N supremo 'fought with every army chief' because he wanted to turn the military into Punjab police.

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Justice Qazi Faez said, 'The prime minister is the premier of the whole country, not of one particular group or party.' He added, 'Why is he misusing the state's resources?' He referred the matter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to constitute a bench as it related to the Constitution and fundamental rights.

During the hearing, the judge observed that the Prime Minister had attended the ceremony in his personal capacity, which showed that he supported a particular group. He remarked that how the premier could align himself with one particular group.

During the proceedings, Syed Rifaqat Hussain Shah, an officer of Supreme Court, and the Additional Secretary Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, who were present in the Court, stated that Ahmed Awais as AG should not involve himself in the Bar politics as he is the ex-officio Chairman of the Punjab Bar Council.

Rifaqat told the court that AG continues to be actively involved in Bar politics and participated in a function held by a particular segment of the legal community to canvass support for their candidate in the upcoming elections of the Association and...