IHC rejects contempt of court plea against Maryam Nawaz, Shahid Khaqan
IHC rejects contempt of court plea against Maryam Nawaz, Shahid Khaqan
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday has turned down the contempt of court plea against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
While announcing the reserved verdict, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah declared the petition filed by Advocate Kulsoom as inadmissible. Just a criticism on former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar doesn’t come under contempt of court. It’s the responsibility of judges to ensure justice to the sufferers, he added.
The CJ further said that an independent judge never gets affected by some criticism. After retirement, judges are no longer part of any court, therefore, the contempt of court is not for a common man, he remarked.
Athar Minallah also expressed that ex-CJP was bashed in personal capacity.
Earlier in the day, the petitioner said that the derogatory language used against Justice Saqib Nisar comes under contempt of court over which, IHC CJ Athar Minallah remarked that judges are open for criticism.
Remarks about retired officials did not warrant contempt of court charges, even if they were made against a former chief justice, he added.
Previously, the high court had taken notice of revelations leveled by former chief judge of Gilgit Baltistan Rana Muhammad Shamim regarding PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz and summoned all the parties and Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan in personal capacity.
Former CJ of Gilgit Baltistan was also served with contempt of court notice.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked, “I trust each and every judge of the court. The judges can also be made accountable and criticized. An environment of disbelief will prevail in society if people stop trusting the courts.”
Athar Minallah told the he had also faced social media backlash. He further directed the journalist to read his story’s headline. The IHC CJ asked where the former judge had notarized this affidavit as it is not part of any record of this court.
