- CJP-led bench also issues notice to FIA, asking to inform court about Suri’s whereabouts and how he left country
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday issued notices to both the federal and Balochistan governments, seeking a detail report on the assets owned by former deputy speaker Qasim Suri and directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to inform the court about his whereabouts.
A four-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, heard an appeal of Qasim Suri against a decision of an election tribunal that annulled his victory from NA-265 constituency in the 2018 general election and had ordered re-election for the said constituency.
During the proceedings, the CJP noted that Qasim Suri had failed to appear in court despite previous orders to do so. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa expressed dissatisfaction with Suri’s absence and remarked critically on his actions related to a stay order he obtained.
Naeem Bukhari, the counsel for Qasim Suri, informed the court that he had lost contact with his client, prompting Justice Faez Isa to comment on the unusual circumstances surrounding Suri’s conduct.
The Chief Justice highlighted that despite the completion of Suri’s term in the National Assembly, the case concerning him had not been resolved by the Supreme Court.
“He has sat after getting restraining order from the Supreme Court,” Justice Faez Isa remarked. “Qasim Suri committed an unconstitutional step on the stay order,” he said. “He rejected a no-confidence motion justifying by a resolution,” the chief justice observed.
In the meanwhile, Naeem Bukhari pleaded to court to reject his client’s appeal and take Suo moto notice of his absence. “The court should order me to go out of the court”, he requested.
“How and why, we ask such a beautiful person like you to go out of the court,” the CJP said in a lighter vein.
“Why Qasim Suri is running from the court,” Justice Musarrat Hilali questioned. “I don’t know, I have no contact with him,” Naeem Bukhari replied. “You can place a message for your client,” Justice Hilali said.
The bench adjourned the hearing indefinitely, underscoring the seriousness with which it views the matter.
The case remains unresolved, with ongoing concerns about Qasim Suri’s non-compliance with court directives and the implications for the judicial process.
Earlier, the court had advertised summon in the newspaper but Suri could not obey the court order.
On Sept 27, 2019, the election tribunal Quetta had declared election of the then NA deputy speaker Qasim Suri from NA-265 (Quetta-II) as null and void and ordered a re-election in the constituency. The court staff told the Supreme Court that according to Qasim Suri’s brother, he was absconding, a notice was sent to Qasim Suri’s address, which his brother received and told the court staff that Qasim Suri was absconding.
