IHC to indict CDA official in contempt case

Court rejects unconditional apology; sets November 12 as indictment date

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar has rejected an unconditional apology offered by Capital Development Authority (CDA) Member Estate Zaman Wattoo over allegedly misleading the court and decided to frame contempt of court charges against him on November 12.

The court directed the prosecutor to appear at the next hearing after preparing the case.

During the proceedings, Chief Justice Dogar remarked that no one should assume that the court was acting as anyone's "B team". He observed that the official's conduct amounted to bulldozing a judicial order and showed a lack of seriousness towards the dignity and respect of the courts.

The chief justice said there appeared to be a perception that ordinary litigants could be made to wait for hours, while people wearing suits and ties could be heard within 10 minutes.

He observed that when a case was fixed before the chief justice's court, it was a senior court and the concerned parties were required to remain present when the matter was called and proceedings commenced.

"I have no personal grudge against anyone," the chief justice remarked, adding that when the order in question was being passed, the official had claimed that he was unwell but appeared before another court on the same day.

The chief justice said the official had been summoned in person that day but had preferred to appear before another court instead of seeking time from the IHC first.

"You have served for 60 years. Do you not know which court is senior?" he asked, observing that the official should have appeared before the IHC and requested an adjournment rather than choosing to attend another court.

At this stage, Zaman Wattoo's counsel, Kashif Ali Malik, offered an unconditional apology. However, the chief justice said the question of an apology would be considered later.

CDA counsel Nazir Jawad requested the court to grant some time, assuring it that he would appear fully prepared at the next hearing. Zaman Wattoo also personally apologised, saying that he respected the court and could never even think of committing contempt.

The chief justice, however, observed that this was not merely a matter of an apology but a clear case of contempt of court.

Prosecutor Adnan Ali informed the court that the official had not tendered an apology in his written response. He said contempt proceedings in such cases were initiated through the framing of charges.