ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday issued a show-cause notice to Privatization Minister Daniyal Aziz to explain as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him for issuing contemptuous and derogatory remarks against the judiciary.
A bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, directed the minister to submit his reply to the notice by Friday.
The PML-N leader appeared before the bench and sought time to submit his response in the case.
The chief justice observed that the minister made contemptuous remarks about the judiciary, which were telecast by various television channels on December 15. These remarks, prima facie, constituted contempt of court, he explained.
On February 2, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took a suo motu notice of the federal minister’s remarks against the judiciary.
Earlier, the court had issued a show-cause notice to State Minister Talal Chaudhry, which said, “You have made derogatory and contemptuous speeches and statements at public gatherings, telecast by different TV channels.”
The speeches, prima facie, constituted interference with and obstruction of the process of the court as well as aimed at belittling the stature of this apex court within the contemplation of Article 204 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973, read with Section 3 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003, it added.
Today, Talal Chaudhry along with his lawyer Kamran Murtaza appeared before the three-judge bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, as it resumed the hearing into the contempt of court case against him.
The counsel informed the bench that he had been engaged lately to plead the case after the demise of his client’s previous lawyer. He, therefore, requested that he needed at least 10 days to prepare his arguments for the case.
Justice Ejaz Afzal said he had already given ample time to the PML-N leader to respond and it couldn’t give more time.
He adjourned the hearing till Feb 26 and directed the counsel to submit his response in next hearing.
