IHC retracts contempt notices against Dr Firdous, Ghulam Sarwar
The decision was taken after Firdous Ashiq Awan and Ghulam Sarwar submitted apologies.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday retracted contempt notices against Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan and Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah announced the decision that was reserved on November 14 and accepted the apology of federal minister and special assistant.
The CJ said that you two are representing the government and have several responsibilities but whatever you have said about the judiciary comes under criminal contempt of court. We appreciate that Ghulam Sarwar had declared his statement as political.
Earlier, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan had submitted their unconditional apologies in the court. The aviation minister said that he is a political worker and cannot think of insulting the judicial authorities.
Dr Firdous had also requested the IHC to separate her case from Ghulam Sarwar Khan matter which was rejected by the chief justice. Ministers and special assistants are designated to re-establish nation’s trust on the government, remarked IHC CJ.
Justice Athar Minallah remarked, “You should have not combined politics with judiciary. You are not an ordinary personality. You are PM’s special assistant and such remarks coming from your side are regrettable."
The proceedings came after IHC had issued contempt of court notice to Dr Firdous for holding anti-judiciary press conference during which she said that a special hearing was conducted in evening to give relief to former PM Nawaz Sharif.
The IHC remarked that Dr Firdous must defend herself before the court regarding her statement.
