DC gets IHC’s reprieve

Court grants Memon’s plea for withdrawal of show cause notice in contempt case

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday granted a request made by the Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Irfan Nawaz Memon for withdrawal of a show cause notice issued against him for his non-appearance in a contempt of court case.

The court, however, the Islamabad DC’s request, seeking exemption from his appearance on March 1 in the contempt of court case.

IHC’s Justice Babar Sattar had directed the deputy commissioner to submit a reply to the show cause notice issued for his absence during the hearing of the contempt of court case.

The Islamabad DC appeared in the court along with his counsel Raja Rizwan Abbasi and requested the court to withdraw the show cause notice issued for his absence from the court hearing, which the court approved and discharged the show cause notice.

Read: Islamabad DC’s fate hangs in balance

Memon further requested the court to allow him an exemption from appearing in person on the next hearing as he was travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. The court said the verdict in the contempt of court case was reserved, which would be pronounced on Friday, therefore, the accused must be present on that day, dismissing the plea.

The court remarked only two to three days were left before the announcement of the court order after which the official would be allowed to go abroad.

The decision of the contempt case is reserved for the issuance of a Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) in respect of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Sheharyar Afridi against the court order.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2024.