LHC reserves its verdict in A.G. Punjab contempt of court case

LAHORE: A three-member bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday reserved its verdict in Advocate General Punjab contempt of court case, ARY News reported.

The verdict will be announced on April 19.

Earlier, Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar reached Lahore High Court (LHC) after being summoned by the court in contempt case against Advocate General Punjab Ahmed Awais.

Provincial law minister, chief secretary and the law secretary were also accompanied with the chief minister.

A three-member bench of the LHC headed by Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan had summoned the chief minister.

“Do you informed why you have been summoned in the court”, Justice Qasim Khan asked the chief minister in the hearing.

“Advocate General is an honorable office respectable for all”, Justice Qasim Khan further said.

“I am also a lawyer and respect the court,” Chief Minister Buzdar told the court. ” I had call the Advocate General Punjab and he has offered to tender his resignation,” the chief minister told the bench.

The summons issued to the chief minister as a LHC bench heard a notice issued to A.G. Punjab Ahmad Awais for contempt of court over his conduct during an announcement of a court order on the joint investigation team (JIT) formed to hold a fresh probe into the Model Town incident.

Advocate Hamid Khan earlier told the court that the judges ignore if someone has a naturally loud voice. But if someone starts cursing? Justice Qasim Khan asked. “In that case contempt proceedings to be initiated,” the senior lawyer replied. One should not ignore the honour and respect of the court, he further said.

Advocate Hamid Khan pleaded to the court, “Kindly ignore the matter. Kindness enhances dignity of the court,” he further said.

Advocate General Ahmed Awais said he didn’t mean to insult the court.

The court had issued a show cause notice to the Advocate General Punjab over his contemptuous attitude and asked him to submit a written reply that why a contempt of court proceeding should not be initiated against him.

The law officers didn’t act in this manner in the history of the high court, the bench said. The Advocate General Punjab and the law officers tried to pressurize the bench, they wanted case proceedings at a bench of their choice, the court remarked. The advocate general even talked about the boycott of the court proceeding, the verdict said.