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Summary The SC has summoned Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi to appear as a witness on March 7.
The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of PM contempt case till March 7.The seven-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk resumed the hearing of contempt of court case against Prime Minister.During the course of proceedings today‚ the bench on the plea of Aitzaz Ahsan‚ Counsel of the Prime Minister‚ summoned Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi to appear before the court as a witness.Submitting his arguments‚ Aitzaz Ahsan said Prime Minister Gilani has not committed contempt of court. According to the rules of business‚ he acted on the advice of the law ministry.Earlier, on Moday the counsel of the Prime Minister’s counsel Aitzaz Ahsan submitted a list of witnesses in the Supreme Court which also included the names of Babar Awan and Law Secretary Masood Chishti. He also prayed the court to call them as witness in the case.It was said in the application moved in the Supreme Court that that the prime minister, in his personal capacity, did not wish to exercise official power in directing any official to appear as a defence witness. The application, however, also stated that the officials should be summoned by court in the capacity of court witnesses.However, Babar Awan declined to oblige, saying he had been a lawyer in the NRO review case; therefore, he was not eligible to appear as a witness. He said if he appeared as a defence witness, it would be tantamount to professional misconduct.Similarly, Law Secretary Masood Chishti offered regrets to appearing as a court witness, saying he too had appeared as a counsel in the NRO review petition.
