The Islamabad High Court has reserved judgement on the petition of two prosecutors who challenged their removal by the interior ministry, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani heard the plea on Monday. 

During hearing, the judge remarked that since the appointments were made without advertisement, that’s why things went awry. 

He said we should be ashamed that 14 people were martyred in the lawyers case but since 2014, the verdict had not been passed. “If judges are afraid, they should go home,” Justice Kiyani added.

The lawyer of the petitioners told the court that authorities asked for some favour from his clients in few high profile cases and on their refusal, they were sacked. He said that his clients were removed on the charge of misconduct.

While raising a question over the appointment of the prosecutors, the court asked the petitioners whether they wanted to continue work by force. 

“If federal government does not want any prosecution branch here, then no legal council can do anything about it,” Justice Kiyani said observing things went awry because appointments were made without advertisement. 

The judge inquired how many decisions were taken by the two anti-terrorism courts in 38 cases during last two years. He said that all high courts, prosecutors and anti-terrorism courts’ judges were responsible for not deciding the cases. He said if judges chickened out, they should go home. 

While arguing his case, the lawyer alleged that the advocate general sacked his clients because the AG wanted to appoint his own people at the post. 

After hearing arguments, the court reserved its judgement over the maintainability of the petition. 

The Interior Ministry on June 23 notified the sacking of its two special public prosecutors of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). 

The prosecutors including Amir Sultan Goraya and Fakhira Amir who supported the acquittal pleas of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and the party leadership in the parliament attack case and got a sack from the interior ministry, filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court challenging their removal. 

The Islamabad advocate general wrote a letter for the removal of the two prosecutors. Both supported the acquittal of PTI leadership in the parliament attack case in the ATC.