ISLAMABAD: Irfan Qadir, who served as the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Affairs, submitted his resignation from the position after reportedly facing embarrassment at the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
Also read: People to resist attack by ‘cabal of crooks’ on SC: Imran Khan
Qadir was appointed as Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in September last year, with status equal to that of a federal minister.
As the Supreme Court resumed hearing the elections delay case Wednesday morning, Irfan Qadir appeared and introduced himself as lawyer representing the Election Commission of Pakistan. Responding to his introduction, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandia said ‘you can’t represent ECP’.
Also read: NA Committee approves Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023
Irked by CJP’s comment, Irfan Qadir asked if the ECP would now get permission from SC to appoint its lawyer, adding that if the bench wasn’t ready to hear him, he would rather opt to leave. After this, Irfan Qadir left the courtroom.
الیکشن کمیشن نے اپنا وکیل عرفان قادر عدالت میں کھڑا کر دیا
عرفان قادر. میں الیکشن کمیشن کی نمائندگی کررہا ہوں. چیف جسٹس عمر عطا بندیال نے کہا آپ الیکشن کمیشن کی نمائندگی نہیں کر سکتے
عرفان قادر. کیا الیکشن کمیشن وکیل بھی سپریم کورٹ سے مشاورت کے بعد مقرر کرےآپ کی جگہ جو وکیل…
— M Azhar Siddique (@AzharSiddique) March 29, 2023
Shortly after this SC episode, Irfan Qadir tendered his resignation. Media reports quoted official sources as saying that the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had accepted the resignation with immediate effect.
Also read: Constitutional amendment needed in 184/3 for right of appeal: Latif Khosa
