SHC issues notice to Sharjeel Memon over 'derogatory remarks against judiciary'
Petitioner says minister's comments that 'judges lack due courage to punish culprits' tantamount to contempt
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Thursday a notice to Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon based on a petition seeking his disqualification over his alleged derogatory remarks against the judiciary.
The court ordered him to either personally appear in court, or submit his reply through a lawyer by December 16.
Civil rights campaigner Rana Faizul Hassan had taken the minister to court for his allegedly stating that "judges lack due courage to punish culprits due to fear."
Hassan named Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani and the Election Commission of Pakistan as respondents in the petition.
He also quoted Memon as recently saying in the Sindh Assembly, "Law enforcement agencies, while putting their lives in jeopardy, arrested hardened criminals. But judges had released them on bail, and 95% cases are still pending with the court.”
The petitioner, in his plea, argued that Article 68 of the Constitution restricts anyone to pass any derogatory remarks or make statements against the judiciary.
He recalled that the minister had also passed similar remarks and statements against the judiciary in the past.
Hassan pleaded the court to take action against Memon according to the provisions of Articles 2, 8, 9, 68 and 204 of the Constitution.
He argued that such remarks and statements tantamount to committing contempt of court, and hoped the court would declare Memon’s membership of the Sindh Assembly as void, subsequently making him ineligible to contest elections in the future.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Thursday a notice to Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon based on a petition seeking his disqualification over his alleged derogatory remarks against the judiciary.
The court ordered him to either personally appear in court, or submit his reply through a lawyer by December 16.
Civil rights campaigner Rana Faizul Hassan had taken the minister to court for his allegedly stating that "judges lack due courage to punish culprits due to fear."
Hassan named Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani and the Election Commission of Pakistan as respondents in the petition.
He also quoted Memon as recently saying in the Sindh Assembly, "Law enforcement agencies, while putting their lives in jeopardy, arrested hardened criminals. But judges had released them on bail, and 95% cases are still pending with the court.”
The petitioner, in his plea, argued that Article 68 of the Constitution restricts anyone to pass any derogatory remarks or make statements against the judiciary.
He recalled that the minister had also passed similar remarks and statements against the judiciary in the past.
Hassan pleaded the court to take action against Memon according to the provisions of Articles 2, 8, 9, 68 and 204 of the Constitution.
He argued that such remarks and statements tantamount to committing contempt of court, and hoped the court would declare Memon’s membership of the Sindh Assembly as void, subsequently making him ineligible to contest elections in the future.