ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has dismissed an Intra Court Appeal (ICA) seeking contempt of court proceedings against Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

A Division Bench (DB) of IHC comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued the written order in the ICA moved by a lawyer Kulsum Khaliq Advocate against the decision of a single-judge bench of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah who had turned down her petition in this matter.

The petitioner in her ICA had challenged a single bench’s verdict wherein Justice Athar had rejected her petition by terming the same as not-maintainable. The IHC dual bench said in its order that the appellant appeared in person but could not point out any order passed by this court which had been violated by the respondents so as to cause this court to initiate proceedings for contempt of court against them.

It added, “It is well settled that contempt was a matter between the court and the alleged contemnor and no one could demand as of right the initiation of proceedings for contempt.”

Appellant could not point out any order passed by court which had been violated

“Since no illegality in the impugned order was identified by the appellant, the instant appeal is dismissed,” maintained the court. 

Earlier, a single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah rejected the petition moved by Kulsum Khaliq Advocate under Article 204 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 read with sections 3 and 4 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003.

The petitioner prayed to the court that contempt proceedings be initiated against Maryam and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

However, the bench turned down her plea by terming “the petition is not maintainable and, therefore, accordingly dismissed.”