SUO MOTU CASE NO.4 OF 2010 vs NOT
This matter relates to a suo motu case concerning the implementation of the directions issued by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the case of Dr. Mubashir Hassan v. Federation of Pakistan (PLD 2010 SC 265) regarding the withdrawal of a letter previously written by the Attorney-General of Pakistan to the Attorney-General of Geneva, Switzerland. The core legal question was whether the draft communication prepared by the Government of Pakistan satisfied the requirements of Paragraph 178 of the aforementioned judgment and properly sought the withdrawal of the prior correspondence while preserving the legal rights and defences of the President and Heads of State under domestic and international law. The Court held that the proposed amended draft communication conformed fully to the requirements of the judgment and addressed the concerns of the Government. The Court directed the Government of Pakistan to dispatch the communication to Switzerland through the Foreign Office, ensure its delivery by the Ambassador within four weeks, and submit proof of actual receipt along with the relevant administrative summaries and authorizations on the next date of hearing.
- Whether the proposed draft communication by the Government of Pakistan conforms to the requirements of the judgment in Dr. Mubashir Hassan v. Federation of Pakistan?
- Can the Government of Pakistan withdraw a previous communication sent to foreign authorities pursuant to directions of the Supreme Court while reserving rights under international law?
ORDER
' ASIF SAEED KHAN KHOSA, J.---As directed by this Court on 18-9-2012 and as instructed and authorized by the Prime Minister of Pakistan in that respect on the said date Mr. Farooq H. Naek, Federal Minister for Law and Justice, had produced before us on 25-9-2012 the required authorization mentioned in the order dated 18-9-2012 and a draft of the communication to be addressed and dispatched by the Government of Pakistan to the Attorney-General, Geneva, Switzerland in compliance of the direction contained in Paragraph No,178 of the judgment handed by this Court in the case of Dr. Mubashir Hassan v. Federation of Pakistan PLD 2010 SC 265. We had perused the draft communication on that day and had required Mr. Naek to improve the same so as to meet the requirement of Paragraph No,178 of the above mentioned judgment and the hearing of the matter was adjourned at his request to 26-9-2012. He had then produced an altered draft of the communication on 26-9-2012 and after perusal and consideration of the same we had found the same to be still deficient upon which he had sought time till 5-10-2012 to improve the draft further so as to meet the requisite requirements. Some aspects of the draft produced by Mr. Naek on 5-10-2012 also needed to be attended to and, thus, the matter was adjourned at his request till today. Mr. Naek has produced an amended draft before us today which is reproduced below:{{TABLE}} "Attorney General Geneva, Switzerland Islamabad October, 2012 ' Re: PP/11105/1997 and CP 289/97 ' Dear Sir, ' This is with reference to the letter dated 22nd May, 2008 addressed by Malik Muhammad Qayyum, the then Attorney General of Pakistan to Mr.Daniel Zappelli, Attorney General Geneva, Switzerland.
' In view of the directions given by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Paragraph 178 (copy attached as Annex-I) of its Judgment dated 16th December 2009 in the case of Dr. Mobashir Hasan, reported as PLD 2010 SC 265, the aforesaid letter is hereby withdrawn and may be treated as never written and therefore revival of requests, status and claims, is sought.
' This is without prejudice to the legal rights and defences of the Presidents/Heads of State which may be available under the law, constitution and international law. Yours sincerely Justice (R)
Yasmin Abbasey,Secretary"
We find that the proposed communication conforms to the requirements of Paragraph No,178 of the judgment of this Court rendered in the case of Dr. Mubashir Hassan and it also addressed the relevant concerns of the Government of Pakistan voiced before this Court by the Prime Minister on 18-9-2012.
2. Mr. Naek has informed us that the relevant communication shall be dispatched to Switzerland through the Foreign Office and the same shall be delivered to the Attorney-General Geneva.
Switzerland by the Ambassador of Pakistan in Switzerland or his representative and the process is likely to take about four weeks. Let the needful be done by the Government of Pakistan within a period of four weeks from today and proof of actual receipt of the said communication by the Attorney-General, Geneva, Switzerland be produced before the Court on the next date of hearing.
In the meanwhile Mr. Naek shall place on the record of this case a copy of the relevant summary for the Prime Minister, a copy of the Prime Minister's order regarding authorization, a copy of the authorization and a copy of the actual letter/communication (with its diary number, date and signatures) dispatched to Switzerland.
3. Adjourned to 14-11-2012.