LHC seeks input on petition against PM

Asks AAG to argue about maintainability of plea seeking contempt proceedings against Shehbaz

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday directed state law officers to assist the court about maintainability of a petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over his remarks about judges.

A single-member bench of the LHC comprising Justice Waheed Khan took up the petition that named the Federation of Pakistan as respondent through the principle secretary of the prime minister.

As the proceedings commenced, Justice Khan asked Additional Attorney General (AAG) Raja Khurram as to whether the petition was maintainable.

Khurram said Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman had told it clear before a Supreme Court bench that PM Shehbaz Sharif’s statement was not about the present judges.

The AAG, however, replied in the negative when the court asked if he had the SC’s written order.

Addressing the PML-N General Council meeting on May 28, PM Shehbaz had said, "If Pakistan fails to make progress, then there would be no judges, no politicians, and no one else. Do you want this? I believe that most of these judges are Pakistanis and think about Pakistan’s development, but some black sheep are helping [PTI founder] Imran Khan."

Also read: PM’s ‘black sheep’ jibe hurts SC judges

Shehbaz’s remarks drew the ire of some Supreme Court judges.

While interacting with Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan during the hearing of a case related to NAB law amendments on Thursday, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail observed that the prime minister had labelled judges as “black sheep”.

“If you like the decision then a judge is fine, but if you dislike the verdict then a judge becomes a black sheep,” he remarked.

Responding to the remarks, the AGP clarified that the PM did not label the “honourable judges” as black sheep. “This [black sheep remarks] was not aimed at incumbent judges,” he added.

In her petition, Ashba Kamran said the derogatory remarks made by Shehbaz constituted contempt of court and posed a significant threat to the credibility and authority of the judiciary.  “It is imperative that appropriate action be taken to address this matter and uphold the dignity of the judiciary.”

The petitioner said she was approaching the court for taking necessary steps to safeguard the honor and independence of the judiciary. She requested the court initiate proceedings in accordance with law for making such contemptuous statement.