The minister had made a statement that some gas station owners had filed a petition in the IHC which was “unfortunately accepted by the court”. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui had summoned the minister for his remarks he had made recently against the court order asking the government to ensure gas supply to the filling stations in twin cities and the Potohar region.
The minister’s counsel Mir Aurangzeb maintained that the word “unfortunately” was uttered by his client with no mala fide intention. He said that his client held the court in high esteem and today’s appearance before the court bore testimony to it.
Later, the minister tendered an unconditional apology which was accepted by the court and the case was disposed of.
On January 11, the minister at a news conference had said that unfortunately there has been a serious gas crisis in the country due to severe winter and resultant higher demand, the IHC order to restore gas supply to filing stations further compounded the issue.
The IHC had summoned the minister in response to a contempt application filed by a lawyer contending that the minister’s remarks are tantamount to his disrespect to the court.
The minister told media outside the court that he could not appear before the court last time because he had received the court notice late.
Responding to a question regarding the gas shortage in the country, the minister said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz took reign of the government at a critical juncture and it will take time to overcome the crisis.
He admitted that the government could not take some decisions that should have been taken in the last six months to overcome the gas crisis.
He said that the government has thrashed out a strategy to overcome the gas shortage through import of liquefied natural gas.
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