Asad Umar appointed amicus curiae in Kanwal Shauzab case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday appointed Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar amicus curiae in the case involving Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Kanwal Shauzab.

Kanwal had called Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari "the third kind" — a derogatory slur used for transgender persons — and termed Justice Athar Minallah a "pharaoh" during a Twitter Spaces live event.

During a hearing of a case regarding abuse of authority under PECA by FIA, Justice Minallah remarked that a political campaign was launched against the court.

"When the matter is pending here, it is not right to distort the facts. Asad Umar belongs to the same political party and we have full confidence in him. He will assist the court after looking into the record," he added.

Read more: FIA halts arrests under PECA, IHC told

Kanwal's counsel Muhammad Azhar Siddique appeared before the court on her behalf. The CJ IHC asked him: "Have you seen both the cases? Who got the relief? In this case, the public office holder Kanwal Shauzab got the relief."

He said it is not appropriate to launch a political campaign against the judiciary.

Azhar Siddique said that we cannot allow any campaign against the judiciary or judges. "Social media should be regulated. The court has barred from speaking on the case," he added.

Justice Minallah said that the court did not stop anyone from speaking. "A case is pending in this court, you should be careful about it. Explain to your client, if she has any complaint, tell the court and it will be resolved."