ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: In a half-hearted presentation to defend the candidature of Sharif brothers, the federal government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it was pursuing its appeals merely because it had been made a party in the high court.

“I have presented what I have been told to do with an understanding that the federal government would follow the court’s directives,” Deputy Attorney-General Agha Tariq Mehmood said while concluding his arguments.

A three-member bench, comprising Justice Mohammad Moosa K. Leghari, Justice Syed Sakhi Hussain Bukhari and Justice Sheikh Hakim Ali, had taken up the federal government’s appeals against the June 23, 2008, Lahore High Court (LHC) order disqualifying PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif from the by-election, but kept pending a petition against the candidature of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif until a decision by an election tribunal.

But on June 25, the Supreme Court stayed the by-election in NA-123 (Lahore) till a decision was announced on the federation’s petition against the LHC verdict.

In addition to the federal government appeals, separate petitions have been filed by the Punjab government, Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Mehr Zafar Iqbal (the proposer of Nawaz Sharif), Shakil Baig (seconder), Syed Khurram Ali Shah, a voter, and Noor Elahi, an independent candidate on whose plea the Lahore High Court had disqualified Nawaz Sharif.

The government’s reply on the locus standi of its appeals came when the court wanted to know why the federation had filed an appeal and how its appeals were maintainable when it was not an aggrieved party.

The court also said there was no adverse decision against the government by the high court where it never submitted, despite being asked, a copy of the pardon granted by former President Rafiq Tarar and a statement, suggesting Sharif brothers’ loan write-offs.

The government’s counsel also had no answer when asked by the court about the status of the conviction awarded to Nawaz Sharif in the plane conspiracy case in the presence of the presidential pardon.

“I am here as government’s counsel since the federal government takes care of everyone,” Agha Tariq Mehmood replied. “Are you suggesting that you (the federal government) filed appeals just for the sake of filing appeals?” Justice Leghari asked.

The legal counsel for Shakil Baig, Advocate A.K. Dogar, said the cases were of great public interest and first of their kind because the person whom the matter concerned most did not appear in the court.

He assured the court that he had full confidence in it.

During the hearing, Akram Sheikh, who is representing Mehr Zafar Iqbal and Ahmed Raza Khan Qasuri, appearing on behalf of Syed Khurram Ali Shah, were present in the court. Attorney-General Sardar Mohammad Latif Khosa also attended the hearing.

The bench will hear the case again on Jan 14.