SC grants Talal Chaudhry one week to submit reply in contempt case

Earlier, PML-N leader was granted a week to engage counsel after the demise of his lawyer Asma Jahangir

ISLAMABAD:

Supreme Court of Pakistan has given another week to Minister of State Talal Chaudhry to submit reply in a contempt of court case.

During a hearing on Monday pertaining to suo motu notice taken by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) of Chaudhry’s speech against the judiciary at a rally in January, Defence Counsel Kamran Murtaza requested the court to extend by 10 days the deadline to submit reply.

However, the three-member bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, has given another seven days.
Justice Maqbool Baqir told the counsel to be reasonable in their request for the extension.

On February 13, the top court had given a week to the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader to engage a counsel after the demise of his lawyer Asma Jahangir.



Late Asma Jahangir had agreed to contest the contempt case against Chaudhry. She was discussing the case with senior lawyer Azam Nazeer Tarar when she dropped her cellphone and was taken to hospital where she breathed her last.

While addressing a public gathering in Jaranwala in January, the PML-N stalwart had said, “There was a time when the Kaabah was filled with idols and now the judiciary, the country’s highest institution, is also full of PCO [Provisional Constitution Order] idols.”

He went on to say, “Nawaz Sharif, throw them out, throw him out of the court. They will not give justice but will continue their injustices.”

Despite the unmatched services rendered by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif during his tenure as the prime minister, “they say that somebody else should become the prime minister”, he added.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has already issued notices to Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Rana Sanaullah on a contempt of court petition regarding the same gathering.