The hearing of a case relating to the rights of minorities at the Supreme Court of Pakistan Tuesday was marred by an altercation between Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Evacuee Trust Property Board’s lawyer.
It all started when the CJP asked Akram Chaudhry as to how many gurdwaras there were in the country.
The latter replied that the case under review was related to six gurdwaras, and that he had already submitted to the court details of the remaining gurdwaras. “Why do you want to hide the facts? Why is an attempt being made to hush up the matter?” the chief justice asked angrily.
“Is this because the land mafia is after the lands reserved for the places of worship for minorities?” He asked Chaudhry to show respect for the court. The latter, however, said that he too, being a senior lawyer, wanted the court to respect him.
Asking the lawyer to leave the rostrum, CJ Isa remarked there was a total collapse of morality.
The lawyer retorted, “I have been practising law for the last 35 years.
Do you think you are the only person who stands on high moral grounds?
The CJP told Chaudhry that he was not interested in talking to him. “We want to talk to the ETPB chairman,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, the Board chairman informed the court there were 19 gurdwaras in the country which were open for the devotees. “Why don’t you upload details and pictures of all gurdwaras on the website?
“Why do you keep saying, ‘Yes sir, yes sir, and do nothing?” Justice Isa questioned.
“Let me remind you that the days of the British Raj are over. Now pleas stop saying sir, sir,” he admonished.
The court ordered the ETPB officials to upload complete details of all gurdwaras and temples along with their photos on the website. “These buildings belong to the country’s minorities,” the chief justice remarked.
