Zubair Qureshi
Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court Justice Athar Minallah on Monday while hearing the case of a disgruntled ex-employee of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) Mansoor Abbasi asked his counsel if it was his first case in the high court.
The question brought smile at everyone’s face in the courtroom and later it turned into laughter when the counsel for Abbasi replied in the affirmative.
Justice Athar Minallah otherwise known for maintaining strict discipline and decorum in the court on Monday deviated a little from his usual course and displayed sense of humour as the counsel Chaudhry Umar Advocate looked a little bit nervous and was not able to absorb flurry of questions coming from the judge.
To a question on statutory and non-statutory powers of the federal government, the counsel referred to a judgment of the Supreme Court but could not satisfy the court.
Later, to another question by the Chief Justice the counsel instead of giving a reply repeated the same question to his client.
“You are a young lawyer, learned counsel and I think your case you should be first settled at the SNGPL departmental level,” said the judge.
According to the petition, Mansoor Abbasi worked for seven years as Pipe Fitter in SNGPL on daily wage basis from 2005 to 2012 and according to him he was dismissed for raiding a property where commercial connection was being used as domestic.
The property belonged to a blue-eyed boy of the SNGPL high-ups, alleged the petitioner and thus he was shown the door. Chaudhry Umar Advocate prayed his client might be reinstated as permanent employee.
After listening to his arguments, Justice Athar Minallah issued directions to the SNGPL to resolve the matter in accordance with law.
The judge then asked Chaudhry Umar Advocate if it was his first case in the high court. “Yes, My Lord,” came the reply. “Ok learned counsel tell your client you have won it,” the judge remarked and the entire courtroom burst into laughter.
Later while talking to Pakistan Observe, Umar Advocate said he felt honoured to appear before the Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah.
“This is the beginning of a long journey and I hope and pray it goes smoothly and successfully,” said Umar who has been practicing in the Pindi District Bar for last two years.
