Tallal Chaudhry contempt case adjourned indefinitely as bench dissolves

SC to constitute new bench due to retirement of Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan

ISLAMABAD: The country's top court on Monday adjourned the contempt case against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Tallal Chaudhry for an indefinite period.

The bench hearing the case dissolved due to the retirement of Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, who presided over a three-member bench that indicted the federal minister for allegedly committing contempt of court in March. The apex court will now constitute a new bench to hear the case.

After being presented with a charge sheet, Chaudhry had denied the contempt allegations and pleaded not guilty.

Kamran Murtaza, counsel for Chaudhry, had requested the bench to show restraint and consider the SC recent decisions not to initiate contempt proceedings against deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Railways Minister Saad Rafique.

He had requested the bench to give him time to file certified copies of all these orders, arguing that indictment will be a big stigma for Chaudhry, who is a young parliamentarian.

However, the SC had turned down his plea and observed that indictment was not a stigma as scores of people have been indicted.

The bench had also assured that if Chaudhry convinces the court, he will not be convicted. Justice Ejaz had observed that the court does not want convict just for the sake of contempt.