Contempt case: SC accepts Faisal Vawda, Mustafa Kamal's unconditional apologies

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) on Friday accepted Senator Faisal Vawda and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Mustafa Kamal’s unconditional apologies in contempt of court case, ARY News reported.

The Supreme Court (SC) had issued contempt of court notices to independent Senator Faisal Vawda and MQM-Pakistan MNA Mustafa Kamal over anti-judiciary rhetoric.

The three-member bench of Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa comprising of Justice Irfan Saadat and Justice Naeem Afghan read the court order.

The court order stated that Senator Faisal Vawda and MQM-P MNA Mustafa Kamal have withdrawn their statements and tendered unconditional apologies, realizing that their words were inappropriate. The court has withdrawn the show-cause notice issued to them, after accepting their apology.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Isa reminded them that Article 66 of the Constitution protects freedom of speech in parliament, not outside it.

CJP Isa advised them to be careful in their future statements, respecting each other’s institutions to avoid harming the public.

Senator Faisal Vawda on June 26 tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in contempt of court case.

Vawda submitted a new response to the court, stating that he leaves himself at the mercy of the Supreme Court.

Senator Faisal Vawda in his earlier response refused to tender an unconditional apology to Supreme Court over a contempt of court notice.

“The press conference was not aimed at insulting the judiciary and it was meant for the betterment of the country,” Faisal Vawda said in his first reply to the court.

READ: Contempt case: Faisal Vawda tenders unconditional apology to SC

It is important to mention here that the apex took suo moto notice of press conferences held by Senator Faisal Vawda and Kamal wherein they demanded evidence of interference in the judiciary.

The top court then issued notices to both leaders and asked them to submit their response before the court.

Where Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Mustafa Kamal tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court for his remarks against the judiciary in the same case.

Vawda, Kamal Presser

In a presser, Senator Faisal Vawda criticized the Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges. “15 days have passed but no details were shared by the IHC judges to support the claims of alleged interference,” the Senator said in response to the IHC judges’ letter, alleging interference in the judicial affairs by the security agencies.

“Accusing someone will not work, the evidence will have to be given in the court,” Faisal Vawda said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The former federal minister asked the IHC judge Babar Sattar to bring evidence of interference and. He also demanded the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) to interfere in this matter.

He was of the view that the country should be protected from external and internal conspiracies, adding that process of targeting state institutions should be stopped.