ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Thursday indicted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and Minister of State for Interior Affairs Talal Chaudhry in the contempt of court case.
Talal Chaudhry has been indicted in the contempt of court over his public speeches made on September 24 and 27, 2017. He, however, pleaded not guilty.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan also turned down the plea wherein adjournment of the instant case was sought till the detailed judgment passed in the contempt of court cases against PML-N’s Quaid Nawaz Sharif and Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique.
The bench further declined the plea to place the documents regarding contempt of court cases against Nawaz Sharif and Saad Rafique on record for just and proper adjudication of the instant matter.
On last Wednesday, the top court had dismissed the contempt of court petitions filed by the Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party against Nawaz Sharif and Saad Rafique.
“Let the charge be framed,” stated Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan during the course of hearing with further observing that these judgments may be cited during the arguments of the case.
Advocate Kamran Murtaza representing Talal Chaudhary appeared before the bench and stated the wordings used in his client’s speeches were inappropriate but the same could not constitute the case of contempt of court.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Mariyum Aurangzeb and Special Advisor to Prime Minister on Media Affairs Dr Musaddiq Malik were also present during the proceedings along with Talal Chaudhary.
Murtaza further stated that indictment was a big stigma and his client was a young parliamentarian.
However, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan responded that indictment was not a stigma as scores of people had been indicted but later contempt of court cases against them were dismissed. The bench, however, assured that accused would not be convicted if he convinced the court.
The application filed by Murtaza stated that the top court had dismissed some other contempt petitions of similar nature against Nawaz Sharif and Saad Rafique while showing judicial restraint and magnanimity.
It further stated that the top court had shown same restraint and magnanimity in a contempt petition against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan.
It added that the contempt cases against Nawaz Sharif and Saad Rafique were of similar nature and were closely related to the case of Talal Chaudhary, therefore, the same petitions were sought to be placed on record for assisting the bench to conclude the case.
“It is submitted that documents (of CoC against Nawaz Sharif and Saad Rafique) are essential for just and proper adjudication of the matter by this Court and no one is going to be prejudiced if the subject documents are allowed to be made part of the record of the titled case,” the application moved by Kamran Murtaza stated.
The case has been adjourned till March 27.
SC indicts Talal in court contempt case
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