IHC issues contempt notice to lawyer in child-maid torture case

Defense counsel associate was caught recording court proceedings

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court issued a contempt notice on Tuesday to an associate of the defense counsel in a child maid torture case.

The court was hearing the case pertaining to alleged assault, confinement, ill-treatment and abandoning of a 10-year-old housemaid by an additional district & sessions judge (ADSJ), Raja Khurram Ali Khan, and his wife Maheen Zafar.

During the hearing, an associate of Defense Counsel Raja Rizwan Abbasi was caught off guard by Justice Aamir Farooq as the former attempted to record court proceedings. “Do you want to end your career even before it starts?” he asked.



Upon questioning, the young lawyer claimed to be unsure of the rule. He added that he was trying to take notes of the hearing and was recording to ensure he did not miss anything.

Justice Farooq asked if the lawyer had missed notification posted in the courtroom strictly prohibiting the use of mobile phones. “It amounts to contempt of court,” he observed as he issued contempt notice. He said if the associate disobeyed rules despite being a lawyer then who will respect the law.

The phone was confiscated on court directives.

However, the court accepted young lawyer’s unconditional apology and directed court staff to return the phone after deleting relevant data. Justice Farooq observed that the young man should learn. The defense counsel also profusely apologised.

Meanwhile, father of the victim, Mohammad Azam record his statement and was cross-examined in the hearing. He informed the court that the victim’s mother had recently passed away.

The court also issued bail-able warrants for Gul Daraz, a witness in the case, for failing to appear before the court and directed authorities to procure his attendance for the hearing scheduled for Friday [February 9].