MIRPUR (AJK) - Former AJK prime minister and a frontline PPP leader, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry on Monday appeared in the AJK Supreme Court in two contempt of court cases.
The apex court had summoned Sultan in two separate petitions of identical nature entitled 'Robkar Court vs Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry' and 'Raza Ali Khan vs Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry' for contempt of the AJK Supreme Court by him (Sultan) by allegedly delivering insulting remarks against the honourable court during a function in Mirpur and which were reported by a section of press on July 24, 2012.
In his written statement submitted to the apex court, Barrister Sultan categorically denied the allegations. He described the story carried by a section of the press on July 24, 2012 as totally baseless and concocted. He categorically stated that he did not spoke against the judiciary or AJK Chief Justice Muhammad Azam Khan.
Barrister Sultan informed the court that he had already disowned and refuted the news item attributed him.
He asserted that he himself was Barrister and had been prime minister of the state. "I have great respect and honour for the judiciary and cannot even think about insulting the judiciary", he submitted in his written statement. "Neither I did ever talk against the judiciary nor have any intention to do so in the future", Barrister Sultan stated by concluding that he believed in high respect and honour of the judiciary.
Tariq Mahmood, owner of a private-sector Public Call Office in Mirpur, also appeared in the apex court in person and submitted his written unconditional apology.  It may be recalled that a news item attributed to Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry containing alleged derogatory remarks against the AJK Chief Justice was disseminated to the print and electronic media by the aforesaid private PCO running by Tariq Mahmood.
The apex court adjourned the hearing of both of the cases till October 3.