Alerts
 
< >

Contempt of court: SC rejects Malik Riaz’s immunity request

Published: July 16, 2012

Riaz's counsel says court cannot indict him according to the new contempt or court law. PHOTO: REUTERS/ FILE

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the immunity request of business tycoon Malik Riaz while hearing a contempt of court case against him, reported Express News.

Justice Shakirullah Jan, hearing the case, said that the court has not taken a final decision on whether it will follow the new contempt law or the previous one. Riaz’s counsel Doctor Basit argued that the new law bars the court from indicting his client.

The apex court had earlier announced that it would indict Riaz today (Monday).

Riaz also filed an appeal against the show-cause notice and charges against him during the hearing.

Attorney General Irfan Qadir maintained that the court’s hearing gets suspended when an appeal is filed.

The hearing has been adjourned till July 31.

on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook

Reader Comments (28)

  • Mohammad Ali Siddiqui
    Jul 16, 2012 - 4:28PM

    Malik Riaz is a land grabber.

    He should not be given any immunity.

    Infact, the Supreme Court should asked the aggreived parties to approach Supreme Court so as to determine as what are the greivances of the aggrevied parties.

    There should be no soft corners for criminals, no matter if they are white-collared.

    Recommend

  • Mahmood
    Jul 16, 2012 - 4:43PM

    What is this immunity? License to do corruption, grab land, destroy the country? I salute sir Zardari for the way he has made a joke out of this country. Bravo Sir. You are matchless.

    Recommend

  • Concerned
    Jul 16, 2012 - 4:51PM

    He is used to abuse the law with unlimited money power. I am 100% sure the new contempt of court law has a specific clause to protect him, which stats criticising one judge is not a criticim of the Judiciary. why both houses were eager to pass the contempt of court law in a rush, while they could not pass the dual nationality bill. He has influence everywhere.

    Recommend

  • Polygamy solves it all
    Jul 16, 2012 - 5:03PM

    Arrest all the retired Generals in his team also

    Recommend

  • khalid
    Jul 16, 2012 - 5:07PM

    We have started to see the advantages of the new contemt law passed by our parliament and senate.

    Recommend

  • Jul 16, 2012 - 5:19PM

    Everything thing is money, there is no justice in our country, no rule of law, we all are corrupt including judiciary and army.

    Recommend

  • Iram
    Jul 16, 2012 - 6:12PM

    Immunity is not for you but it is only DADY CATED to son of law.

    Recommend

  • Jibran
    Jul 16, 2012 - 6:29PM

    This is the reason why it was necessary to remove Justice Shakirullah Jan from the post of Chief Election Commissioner. He, along with his buddies, wants to rewrite the constitution. The cases are heard in the light of current laws, not in anticipation of the future laws. This is the reason why the judicial system in Pakistan is rotten to the core and the people don’t get respite anywhere. Just to punish a whistle blower all the uncles are ready to go to any extent, without considering that their loyalty should be not to an individual but to the institutions, the constitution, and the laws.

    Recommend

  • Jibran
    Jul 16, 2012 - 6:32PM

    Those who are talking about other excesses of Mr. Riaz, kindly note that those are separate cases. This case specifically about contempt of court, and in the court you can’t appear and say this or that guy slapped me two years ago, so send him to jail on the contempt of court charges.

    Recommend

  • Nasir Mahmood
    Jul 16, 2012 - 6:34PM

    Passing the contempt bill in 68 minutes who says Parliament is not sovereign! Thanks to Parliament which has given permit to influential people to save themselves from any punishment for their wrong doings.

    Recommend

  • Jibran
    Jul 16, 2012 - 6:34PM

    @Polygamy solves it all:
    Arrest all the retired Generals in his team also

    Under what charges? Contempt of Court? You must be kidding us!!!… These are serious matters kid; grown ups are working on them. Don’t worry!

    Recommend

  • Very 1
    Jul 16, 2012 - 6:41PM

    @Jibran:
    This was the last institution we all had some expectations of impartiality from. Setting aside an existing law just by making comments from a bench. Isnt that aviation of the rule of law? Munmaani in SC!

    Recommend

  • Logic Europe
    Jul 16, 2012 - 7:02PM

    Mr malik is a mirror in which the courts can see their own image of corruption.mepotismlots.foreighn trips and the like
    NO ONE CAN CAUSE ANY HARM TO MR MALIK.

    Recommend

  • ABDUL AZEEM
    Jul 16, 2012 - 7:19PM

    Sentence him a 5 year jail. He said to the Judiciary a handpicked thing which is operating by DON. Had he any proof about it. No man he should be penalized. Don’t let him to go. He sucked the blood of poor tenants on which he constructed the building of his money.

    Recommend

  • Ch Allah Daad
    Jul 16, 2012 - 8:41PM

    Let’s not forget, Malik is a victim in this case but he is being treated like a criminal. Only because he has accused son of a Chief Justice. Malik’s criminal activites have nothing to do with this particular case. If he had accused Bilawal, Hamza or Musa, he would have become our hero. Truth and honesty is a very rare commodity in corridors of our judiaciary and minds of its supporters.

    Recommend

  • Sonya
    Jul 16, 2012 - 8:45PM

    We cannot have one treatment for Arsalan Chaudhry and another for Riaz Malik, the PCO judges must resign as they sold the constitution to a dictator for almost 7 years.

    Recommend

  • Polygamy solves it all
    Jul 16, 2012 - 10:07PM

    @jibran
    If you are unable to see something fishy here then stop talking like a grown up. All the Generals employed by Riaz should be investigated for their possible involvement in corruption, due to which they got employed by Riaz. If they come clean, no complaining but its very unlikely.

    Recommend

  • jibran
    Jul 16, 2012 - 10:24PM

    @Polygamy solves it all:
    Last time when I checked it was contempt of court case not a case regarding corruption. Please do yourself a favor and educate yourself.

    There are other cases pertaining to corruption, your comment might be relevant there.

    Recommend

  • Umar
    Jul 16, 2012 - 10:44PM

    Now people should be able to by laws in the constitution; so you killed someone, no problem you can sponsor a constitutional amendment that gives you exemption from being prosecuted.

    Anyone supporting PPP should just wait for their turn to become victims of the monster they have created themselves.

    Recommend

  • Mujhe hay hukm-e azaan
    Jul 16, 2012 - 10:55PM

    @jibran:
    Leave that to moderator and take some rest

    Recommend

  • Farhan Khan
    Jul 16, 2012 - 11:01PM

    @Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
    Its not a case of Land-Grabbing. Its a case of Contempt and court can only follow existing Contempt laws.

    Recommend

  • Aik-Paki
    Jul 16, 2012 - 11:06PM

    We read interesting comments about the Judiciary in every news about judiciary on this paper by some particular ghost readers.
    I have posted some comments but did not appear. What are the qualifications to comment in support of our beloved judiciary.

    Recommend

  • just_someone
    Jul 17, 2012 - 12:16AM

    @Jibran:
    Yes, but there is also a notion of indicting on the laws present when the case was initiated and not on ipso-facto changes in the law. He should be tried under the old law since that is the law that was in place in the land when the case was initiated.
    If your rule applied, then there would be mass BS in the world because people would change laws to affect ongoing cases.
    It would be different if current cases were determined on legal president that was established i.e. if the apex court was not hearing the case, and the apex court during the case made some decisions then that decision will be applicable to all current cases based on legal precedent.
    But changing of laws in between trials is not something that applies to current cases. This is a long established tradition since to my knowledge it is never written in law….

    Recommend

  • Jibran
    Jul 17, 2012 - 1:02AM

    @just_someone:
    Your point is valid, but the learned judges used a different excuse, which tells how shallow their understanding of the constitution/laws is.

    No wonder why now they issue the short orders, let the media discuss its pros-cons and then use religion, laws of necessity, and poetry to justify the verdict in the long order.

    Recommend

  • Logic Europe
    Jul 17, 2012 - 2:11AM

    @ aik paki
    i frequently comment and mostly these are published At times I fear that my harsh criticism of judiciary and Polticians will not be approved but i am always pleasantly surprised to see my comments appear and and appreciated So if your comments are not malafide ,you have a good chance to submit your view point

    Recommend

  • Aik-Paki
    Jul 17, 2012 - 2:17AM

    Amazing how our so called high-class people work.
    Malik Riaz’s lawyer said on “Aapis Ki Baat” that Malik Riaz is not going to get any benefit from the new contempt law. Now it is shamefull that he is asking immunity by using the new contempt law that was made for the rich like Riaz, Zardari, Nawaz, Asfand, etc.

    Recommend

  • Magnanimity
    Jul 17, 2012 - 2:54AM

    Anybody who besmirches SC and CJP becomes the holy cow(in this case,Malik Riaz) for people especially for NRO-PPP’s pawns.

    No wonder why our country is in such a mess.

    Recommend

  • shaista
    Jul 17, 2012 - 3:40AM

    due slet the court punish him ,and Mr President will clear him out using his powers because Malik Riaz was working for Zirdari to create all this Arslan Gate

    Recommend

More in Pakistan