Faisal Raza Abidi throws himself at mercy of court

Offers unconditional apology to SC; says he has already learned his lesson

ISLAMABAD: Former senator Faisal Raza Abidi, who is detained in Adiala jail for alleged contempt of court, has tendered an unconditional apology and thrown himself at the mercy of the apex court.

Abidi has submitted a two-page unconditional apology for using contemptuous words against the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar. The Supreme Court is set to resume hearing of the case tomorrow (Dec 19).

In the ongoing year, the SC has already disqualified three Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers for contempt of court. One of the lawmakers, senator Nehal Hashmi, had also tendered an apology but the court sent him behind bar for one month.

In 2018, a numbers of lawmakers and mediamen tendered unconditional apologies in different matters to the CJP. The apex court accepted apologies of Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Senator Azam Swati, senior journalist Hussain Naqi, MNA Amir Liaqat, Gilgit-Baltistan Minister Fida Hussain, Dr Shahid Masood, Arshad Sharif and GEO TV owner Mir Shakilur Rehman.

However, the apex court rejected unconditional apologies of police officials, who were found guilty in the manhandling of former CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry in March 2007.

There is a debate whether punishment in contempt cases can help in upholding dignity of courts particularly when unconditional apologies have been tendered.

Abidi in his apology says he has spent more than 35 days behind bar and he has been presented before different courts in handcuff resulting in his and his family’s humiliation, which is another punishment he received.

“I have learned to be more responsible and calculating in my expressions, words and actions therefore this piece of writing called apology I surrender before the mercy of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take lenient view about me and acquit me from all the charges/cases. I hereby give assurance that in future I would be circumspect in my utterance,” says the apology.