ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi of the Federal Constitutional Court on Wednesday remarked that the courtroom should not be turned into a political arena, and directed the parties to study the 27th Constitutional Amendment before appearing.
Justice Rizvi gave the remarks during the hearing of a case concerning the dismissal of Utility Corporation employees. He later granted time to the dismissed Utility Store salesman, Muzammil Rafiq, to prepare his case.
He noted that the petitioner had withdrawn the intra-court appeal filed in the Lahore High Court against his dismissal.
The petitioner argued that he withdrew the appeal on the court’s advice.
He submitted that 12,000 employees had been terminated. Justice Rizvi interrupted him that this petition was not about 12,000 employees; it was his personal plea, so he should speak about his own case.
Justice Rizvi questioned how the petitioner could directly file an application in the Federal Court, and advised him to consult a lawyer. He noted that the Utility Stores had incurred losses worth millions of rupees, and substantial embezzlement had been uncovered.
The court remarked: “Are these the matters a government should be handling? It was not the public but the staff who benefited from the Utility Stores.”
Later, Justice Rizvi adjourned the hearing indefinitely.