LAHORE – Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial has dropped contempt proceedings against Ministry of Religious Affairs Joint Secretary after accepting his unconditional apology.
Joint Secretary Sher Ali had used contemptuous language in his written reply during hearing of a contempt petitions against the ministry about allotment of Haj quota, following which the chief justice had issued a show cause notice to him.
However, Sher Ali filed his second reply and said he had no intent to defame or ridicule the court. He tendered his unconditional apology and left himself at the mercy of the court. The CJ accepted his apology and discharged show-cause notice.
The order issued on Tuesday said: “Joint secretary states that the words “any adverse conclusion drawn there-from would, in itself, be arbitrary, and biased” in his letter dated 03.07.2012 is not meant to express any opinion whatsoever on the orders or proceedings of the Court.  He submits that he does not seek to justify the said orders and tenders his unconditional apology to the Court for using the said words in his written communication and submits himself at the mercy of this Court.”