ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday expressed displeasure with the arguments presented by the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) lawyer and dismissed an application filed by him, seeking adjournment of proceedings in the case relating to the Hudaibya Paper Mills of the Sharif family, until its new Prosecutor General (PG) is appointed.

Meanwhile, the court banned TV channels from holding talk shows on this case, and said only reporting can be done.

The application was trashed soon after a three-judge bench comprising Justice Mushir Alam, Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel resumed hearing the NAB appeal against the 2014 decision of the Lahore High Court (LHC) to quash the reference.

“The office of the PG is vacant and it will be appropriate that a PG appears in the court for such an important case,” NAB lawyer Imranul Haq, argued.

The bench, however, observed that the reason provided by the NAB for adjournment had no basis. “Do not ridicule the court,” Justice Isa said. “Why shouldn’t we initiate contempt of court proceedings? Every case is high-profile for us.”

Justice Alam said: “We have nothing to do with the appointment of the prosecutor.” Justice Isa asked the lawyer on whose recommendation the application for adjournment had been filed.

The NAB prosecutor replied that the decision was taken during a meeting over which the NAB chairman presided.

“In that case, why don’t we call the chairman to appear before the court?” Justice Isa said.