LAHORE - Supreme Court Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Friday objected to PPP Senator Aitzaz Ahsan’s remarks wherein he had endorsed criticism of another senator Farhatullah Babar on judiciary and army.
“We know the limits of the courts,” the CJP remarked while hearing a case regarding infant formula milk at the Supreme Court registry. The top judge gave advice to Ahsan to speak his mind about the state institution in the court. Ahsan had said in his farewell speech at Senate: “ I 100 per cent agree with Babar who said judiciary and military should not cross their domain but this also applies to the parliament. We the politicians also must not cross the limits.” He was due to appear before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court as counsel of association of milk manufacturers in a case of infant formula milk.
However, his associate Gohar told the bench that Ahsan was unavailable because of farewell ceremony for the outgoing senators in Islamabad.
At this, the CJ directed Ahsan to appear on Saturday (today) but the counsel said that he was unavailable before Monday.
The CJ asked Gohar to argue on the subject matter but he said that Ahsan would argue the case himself.
The reply irked the CJP who observed: “Are you scaring us with the name of Aitzaz Ahsan?” He is our elder but it doesn’t mean that you can enjoy any leverage for being associated with a big law firm. He should leave the practice if he can’t come to the court.”
He said that they know that he would argue that the court was going beyond its jurisdiction. The chief justice imposed Rs10,000 fine on Ahsan when his associate kept pleading for an adjournment till Monday.
He also suspended practicing licence of Gohar, however, withdrew it on his apology and a request made by other senior lawyers present in the court.
The bench also directed manufacturers to advertise that formula milk was neither nature milk nor substitute of breastfeeding.
“If they failed to do so the court itself would run an ad on it.”
During the proceedings, the counsel of Nestle and owner of Meiji Company told the bench that the milk in packs was not natural milk.
Meiji Company’s representative assured the bench that they would not use the word “milk” on infant formula products.
At this, the bench also directed the formula milk manufacturers to lift the stock from the market otherwise contempt of court proceedings would be initiated against them. The bench adjourned proceedings till Saturday (today) while.