SC orders advertisement to summon Qasim Suri in electoral irregularities case

Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered to issuing of an advertisement in national newspapers to summon Qasim Suri in the electoral irregularities case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

According to the apex court’s order of Friday’s hearing, a hearing was held in the Supreme Court on the appeal against the de-seating of former deputy speaker of National Assembly Qasim Suri.

The former deputy speaker, once again, did not appear before the court despite several summons issued for him.

SC further ordered that the summons of Qasim Suri should be advertised in Jang and Dawn newspaper, Quetta besides the pasting of the court’s notice outside Suri's house.

Suri was deliberately not appearing in court despite being summoned several times, according to the order.

During the hearing of the case, Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa remarked that according to the record, Suri's brother Bilal had refused to receive the notice.

"Suri was deliberately not appearing in the Supreme Court. The former deputy speaker's refusal to receive the notice is unfortunate," said the CJP.

The chief justice, while talking to Suri's lawyer Naeem Bukhari, said, "Your client is very active on media and social media. Naeem Bukhari replied, "I don't watch TV."

The chief justice remarked, "You are a TV personality yourself and do not watch television. Are you familiar with X or Twitter?," the CJP asked. Bukhari replied, "I do not use social media nor do I know how to use it."

The chief justice asked, "Why are you considering yourself old, stay young and up-to-date." Bukhari replied he was old now. Justice Irfan Saadat remarked, "In a TV programme you had said your friends don't let you grow old."

Bukhari told the court he had no contact with Qasim Suri.

The chief justice said in his remarks that the next hearing will be held in July, and the next date will be fixed in the court order.

Later, the apex court adjourned the hearing till July 9, 2024.