Minallah distances himself from contempt notices to MPs

Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah has clarified that he did not seek the initiation of contempt proceedings against Senator Faisal Vawda and MNA Mustafa Kamal in the wake of malicious news conferences against the judiciary.

In a letter written to the Supreme Court registrar, Justice Minallah said an impression was being given that the contempt proceedings against both the lawmakers were initiated on his complaint. “It is unequivocally stated that neither any complaint was filed by me nor was I in any manner consulted in this regard,” added the judge.

Minallah mentioned that he had confronted the challenges of malicious campaigns, intrusions in his privacy, fake allegations and imputation of motives on account of his verdicts since 2017, while he was serving in the Islamabad High Court.

“As a judge I had realized that such vilification campaigns were associated with the nature of performing our constitutional duty in a polarized society having a fragile rule of law. It affirmed and strengthened my allegiance and commitment to every word of the oath of my office. Fake, false and misguided propaganda and vilification campaigns are short lived because truth ultimately prevails,” read the letter penned by Minallah to the apex court registrar.

The judge also cited the examples of his judgments in favour of freedom of speech, adding, “I had highlighted the importance of the duty of the constitutional courts to jealously protect the right to freedom of expression and a free press and media in the case of Rana Mohammad Arshad”.

Justice Minallah concluded, “In the light of my own jurisprudence I could not have sought the initiation of contempt proceedings relating to criticism of my person, no matter how harsh, malicious or false it may be”.

He directed the top court registrar to place the letter on record to dispel any unfounded impression that the proceedings were initiated on his complaint.