ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the PTA chairman to appear for the next hearing, on Monday adjourned the hearing on the audio leak petitions involving former prime minister Bushra Bibi’s wife and former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar’s son Najam Saqib to the 14th. Justice Babar Sattar heard the case.
Irfan Qadir appeared before the court on behalf of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). PTA counsel Irfan Qadir told the court that on the request of the petitioners, the case has become ineffective and should be heard. Justice Babar Sattar observed that two separate petitions were filed in the court. He asked the lawyer where the PTA chairman was.
The lawyer replied that the PTA president was in Barcelona and would be back in three to four days. Qadir further said that the PTA is facing some legal hurdles. Justice Sattar noted that the PTA had first said that there was no legal intervention. “Should he withdraw his reply which he submitted to the court earlier,” the judge asked the PTA lawyer, who said no official had said anything like that. Later, Justice Sattar said the Chairman was directed to submit his affidavit. “I was a lawyer for the PTA.
I know that there is legal interference. It is not possible for the telephone operators to lie in court. The PTA has submitted a response that there is no legal interference. Why is the PTA embarrassing itself by taking this position?” the judge asked . Justice Sattar observed that they had to take the matter in some direction and decide the case. Lawyer Qadir argued that the PTA had not given permission to anyone to take the audio. “There is a mechanism for that,” he added. The IHC summoned the PTA chairman for the next date of hearing on March 14.
