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Summary Supreme Court allowed govt counsel Babar Awan to argue in NRO review petition after hot debate.
Supreme Court, two years ago, had declared the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) null and void but government filed a review petition in this regard. The review case is pending for last one and half year due to different reasons including change of lawyers, dearth of judges and government’s plea for suspension.Kamal Azfar was the government’s counsel who was appointed advisor. Later on, Latif Khosa was appointed counsel of government but he assumed office of governor Punjab. Kamal Azfar again became the counsel after resigning as advisor but he alleged the government for threatening him and he refused to pursue the case. Now Babar Awan asked permission from Supreme Court to allow him to appear before court from the federation.Former law minister Babar Awan exchanged some harsh words with member of the larger bench of SC during the hearing of review petition.Talking to media men outside SC Babar Awan said that all the laws which are enacted are authored with black ink and the courts whiten them. “We are not among the people who target the courts”, he remarked.He went on to say SC had given no decision on the petition filed in connection with appointment of lawyer but the court had asked him to tell first what was his stance on NRO judgement review and then the court would decide. “I have said in the SC that the court should treat everyone equally,” he stated.“The federation had exercised its right by appointing me its counsel. 3 persons had already appeared on behalf of the federation in the NRO case. If the federation is changing its counsel, then it is not a new thing. I have told the SC that senior lawyers including me have been prevented from entering into the court,” he said.In a sarcastic way, Babar Awan referred to the arguments by the bench as a talk show. He said he nonetheless respects all talk shows.
