Ex-AGP seeks contempt proceedings against Maryam Nawaz

LAHORE:

ISLAMABAD

A senior lawyer of the Supreme Court requested the chief justice of Pakistan on Tuesday to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz over a speech last week.

In a letter to Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, former attorney general Anwar Mansoor Khan said that Maryam Nawaz hurled false accusations against the judges and the Supreme Court without any evidence.

He added that her severe criticism was considered as an attack on the independence of the judiciary and the justice system and requested the chief justice to take immediate action to protect the reputation, honour and dignity of the apex court judges.

The letter was written in reference to the PML-N leader’s speech at a workers convention in Sargodha on February 23, in which she fired a broadside against a former military officer, besides four serving and former judges of the Supreme Court.

In her fiery speech, Maryam Nawaz had claimed that “a group of five people was involved in the conspiracy against Nawaz Sharif, saying that “this group of five is responsible” for the plight of Pakistan”.

Anwar Mansoor Khan termed the speech a “shameful attack” on the judges of the Supreme Court by Maryam Nawaz with a view to “rouse their [public] sentiments” against the Supreme Court and the judges.

“The purposive act of Madam Maryam shows a clear intent, which amounts to or has the effect of obstructing the administration of justice. Such actions on part of any public figure, is in fact an attack on the judiciary and its independence,” he said.

The former attorney general also pointed out that the PML-N leader used unsubstantiated audio leaks from “unknown source” against Justice Mazahar Naqvi and levelled allegations against Justice Ijazul Ahsan.

He added that the allegations had been made at a time when a suo motu case regarding the general election of the provincial assemblies was being heard by the nine-member bench, also including those two judges.

The senior lawyer requested the chief justice to “proceed on the basis of these facts … for securing the majesty, integrity, safeguard, independence and confidence” of the judiciary in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

“You may decide whether you wish to proceed against the concerned for personal criticism through the ‘judicial and criminal contempt under Sections 6, 9 and 11 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003 read with Article 204(2) of the Constitution.”

The letter came a day after a petition was filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) to seek contempt proceedings against Maryam Nawaz over her “contemptuous remarks” against the judges of the apex court.

The petition, filed by Muhammad Shahid through Rana Shahid advocate, contended that “Maryam Nawaz scandalised the superior court”. He requested the court to summon the PML-N leader and initiate proceedings against her in accordance with the law.

LHC Justice Shujaat Ali Khan heard the petition on Tuesday. During the hearing, the judge pointed out that the matter pertained to contemptuous remarks about the judges of the superior court so how could the high court hear this petition.

Advocate Shahid told the court that Maryam Nawaz had also committed contempt by scandalising the LHC judges, who were hearing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s protective bail plea.

The judge asked the lawyer whether he had any previous judgment to support his contention. In reply, the lawyer sought time, saying that he would come up with relevant judgment on the next hearing. Later, the hearing was adjourned till March 1 (today).

(WITH INPUT FROM OUR LAHORE CORRESPONDENT RANA YASIF)