SC seeks complete record against cleric in contempt case

Hearing of case adjourned until after Muharram 10

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of a contempt case against Rawalpindi-based cleric Agha Iftikharuddin Mirza accused of hurling threats and abuses at the judiciary in a video lecture on social media until after Muharram 10.

The apex court directed the prosecution to make all the documentary and digital evidences part of the record.

As a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed heard the case, the prosecution submitted a list of three witnesses against Mirza.

On the apex court’s directions, forensic laboratory director Masood Ali appeared before it and stated that he had reviewed five gadgets belonging to Mirza including the video, CD and three mobile phones and that they were original.

On being asked whether the five gadgets had been made part of the record, the deputy attorney general replied in negative.

Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin asked the prosecution to bring all the evidence on record and observed that the accused had clearly committed contempt of court.

He remarked there was no need to indict the accused and added that he was being given a fair trial.

The chief justice directed the prosecution to fulfill all the legal formalities and adjourned the hearing of the case until after Muharram 10.

In June, Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed had taken notice of a video clip containing "derogatory, contemptuous, and scandalous language" against Justice Qazi Faez Isa and other superior judges and later issued him a contempt of court notice.

Justice Isa's wife, Sarina Isa, had also informed police that the life of her family was in danger as they were receiving threats and had requested officials to register a case against those who were threatening and harassing her family.

She had filed an application at Islamabad’s Secretariat Police Station.

Subsequently on June 30, an Anti-Terrorism Court handed over the custody of Mirza to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for seven days.