PML-N leaders to resubmit written apology in contempt case

All six facing the proceedings say they regret their words


Our Correspondent May 23, 2018
PHOTO: EXPRESS

LAHORE: A full bench of the Lahore High Court, headed by Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, directed two local leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to resubmit their written apology after removing the ‘mistakes’.

The full bench had initiated contempt proceedings against six people, including two PML-N parliamentarians, namely MNA Waseem Akhtar and MPA Naeem Safdar, for using derogatory language against judges and the court during a rally in Kasur.

On Tuesday, the petitioner’s counsel pointed out that PML-N local leaders Nasir Khan and Jamil Khan had submitted their written apology, but there were several mistakes in their apology which needed to be corrected. The counsel said substantial content was required in the apology rather than irrelevant material.

The full bench directed the two local leaders to submit their apology again after removing the mistakes.

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Earlier during proceedings, the bench expressed its displeasure over the non-appearance of prosecutor Shan Gull. PML-N leader Nasir Khan, in previous proceedings, told the court that the defendants had respect for the judiciary. To this, the bench remarked that the respondents must learn that this is a society and “we do not come from an alien planet”. Another local leader, Jameel Khan, at the time, pleaded that “we did not commit the mistake deliberately”, adding “it is an inadvertent act”. The bench had remarked, “Your leader does the same act the whole day”.

The counsel for the accused requested the bench to allow his clients to issue an unconditional apology. The video clips of the rally held by PML-N leaders were also played on an electronic projector. All the six facing proceedings stated before the bench that they regretted their words. They tried to convince the court that they had great respect for the judiciary and also participated in the movement for the restoration of an independent judiciary.

Justice Naqvi observed that the court was aware of the so-called role of the party in the lawyers’ movement. Lawyers from the petitioners’ side contended that the offenders did not deserve any relaxation and the court should punish them to set an example.

Kasur District Bar Association President Mirza Naseem and others had filed the petitions pleading that the protest, taken out by parliamentarians and local government leaders affiliated with the ruling PML-N, was a conspiracy against the institution of the judiciary. The petitioners said the act of the respondent parliamentarians amounted to contempt of court and they were all liable to be punished under the law. They asked the court to also declare the respondents disqualified, besides launching contempt proceedings against them.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2018.

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