Aamir Liaquat to be indicted in contempt case by SC on Sept 27

Hearing of the case adjourned for one week

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has decided to indict Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmaker and televangelist Aamir Liaquat Hussain in a contempt case.

Hussain had been issued a contempt notice on August 10 by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Umar Ata Bandial for using abusive and derogatory language against media and others.

In Tuesday's hearing, the PTI lawmaker submitted an unconditional apology before the bench, however, the apex court said the apology will be considered once the statements were recorded.

Justice Nisar remarked that contemnors will not be spared. The hearing has been adjourned until September 27.



In May 2007, Independent Media group – the parent company of Jang and Geo groups - Mir Shakilur Rehman, Najam Sethi and Shahzeb Khanzada filed petitions against Hussain. The petitiones accused Hussain of leveling false and baseless allegations on citizens and politicians in his programme on Bol TV.

Last month, the apex court slapped a Rs20,000  fine on televangelist for failing to appear before court in case hearing.

In another hearing, Hussain was questioned by the CJP regarding his remarks after he appeared in court and asked the televangelist who he had referred to as “India’s son and father”. In reply, the PTI leader stated that he had referred to the Indian prime minister and national security advisor in his statement. His answer, however, was dismissed by the chief justice.

“How can we let such people sit in the Parliament who lack manners to speak to others,” Justice Nisar had remarked. “Those who cannot control their speech should not be allowed in the Parliament.”

The top judge observed that the PTI leader took undue advantage of the media’s reach and had spread false propaganda.