SC orders provision of CD recordings of contemptuous speech to minister

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed a federal law officer to provide CD recordings to State Minister Talal Chaudhry of his anti-judiciary speech, which led to institution of a contempt of court case against him.

The PML-N leader appeared before a three-judge bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan seized with the hearing of the contempt of court case against him.

The federal minister’s lawyer asked the court to provide CD recordings of his client’s speech in question.

The bench observed that he had already been given a transcript of the speech and directed the additional attorney general to provide the minister CD recordings.

Talal Chaudhry and Privatization Minister Daniyal Aziz are facing contempt charges for allegedly making contemptuous and derogatory remarks against the judiciary.

The PML-N leaders had been served show-cause notices to explain as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for indulging in undue criticism of the apex court judges.

In their response to the notice, they denied having committed contempt of court, stating that their statements were reported out of context.

In his response, Talal Chaudhry said he never indulged in mocking the judiciary, nor could he even think of committing contempt of court.

He claimed that his statement about the judiciary was taken out of context. He said he had never wittingly or unwittingly acted in a manner, which can be deemed as contempt of court.

The PML-N leader asked the apex court to provide details of his statement on the basis of which contempt proceedings were initiated against him.

He said every citizen has right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19 of the Constitution and requested the court to quash contempt of court proceedings against him.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had taken a suo motu notice of the contemptuous statements given by the ministers against the judiciary.