Contempt case: IHC rejects Abidi’s plea to remove terrorism charges

ISLAMABAD: While cancelling the interim bail of former PPP senator Faisal Raza Abidi, the Islamabad High Court on Thursday also rejected his plea of  seeking removal of terrorism charges from a case against him.

During the case hearing, Justice Moshin Akhtar Kayani stated that the judiciary and chief justice were being openly threatened.

The judge asked Abidi, “Have you committed the contempt of court.” The counsel of Abidi replied: “My client used strong words, but didn’t disrespect the judiciary.”

Justice Kayani remarked that an attitude to threaten judiciary was wrong. “It’s become a norm that anyone wishes to malign the judiciary does so…” The court also rejected Abidi’s plea to strike down cyber crime charges from the case.

According to reports, another case was registered on Tuesday night against Abidi which includes charges of defamation.

A case was registered against the former senator on Sep 21 for using inappropriate words for the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The complaint was registered by the apex court’s Public Relations Officer Shahid Hussain Kamboyo in the Secretariat Police Station under Pakistan Penal Code’s sections 228, 500, 505(ii) and 34 along with Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). On September 28, the Sindh government issued approval to the Islamabad police to arrest Abidi.

According to the FIR, in a video, which went viral on social media, the accused used highly abusive, contemptuous and threatening language against state institutions.

The former senator has been accused of leveling accusations against individuals holding the highest constitutional posts.