The Supreme Court has disqualified Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former federal minister for privatization, Daniyal Aziz.
The Court issued the verdict stating Daniyal Aziz had committed contempt of court. Now, he won't be able to contest upcoming general elections.
The bench ruled that Aziz had attempted to malign the court in his speech and spread hatred in light of Section 2 (b) of Article 204 of the Constitution.
However, the court also ruled that it deliberately showed leniency and did not send Aziz to jail for six months.
A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed, of the Supreme Court was formed after a suo motu notice of Aziz's anti-judiciary remarks.
Strict security measures are in place in and around the Supreme Court of Pakistan in light of the verdict.
As the three-member bench, headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed, convened to announce the verdict, Justice Mushir Alam, who was part of the original bench, was given the verdict for reading out.
However, Justice Alam, decided to wait for Aziz before announcing the verdict as the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader had not arrived in court. Later on, he reached the Supreme Court.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, the original head and member of the bench, are not in Islamabad to take part in the hearing.
Earlier. the Supreme Court reserved its decision in the contempt case against Federal Minister for privatization, Daniyal Aziz , on May 3 after completion of arguments of both sides.
On February 19, the apex court had issued a show cause notice to Aziz before that a contempt of court notice to him on February 2 for his controversial speeches and statements.
Prosecutor Rana Waqar argued that Daniyal Aziz’s statements were an attack on the judiciary.
Prosecutor Waqar informed the three-member bench that Aziz termed Imran Khan’s clearance and disqualification of Jahangir Tareen as ‘scripted’ and said that the monitoring judge of the Supreme Court directed the corruption references against Nawaz Sharif and his family.
Rana Waqar further added, “Aziz did not disown his comments”.
Aziz was represented by lawyer Ali Raza who produced witnesses in Daniyal Aziz’s defence, whereas, Rana Waqar also produced two witnesses against Aziz, a journalist and an official from Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Auithority (Pemra).
Aziz was indicted on contempt charges by the Supreme Court on March 13.
Justice Mushir Alam read out the charges which included several instances where the minister had made anti-judiciary remarks.
Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, who is heading the bench, assured, “The trial will be transparent as per the Constitution.”