ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court on Monday admitted for hearing, a petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz for their derogatory remarks against the judiciary.
A single bench of the IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq conducted hearing of the petition moved by a lawyer Adnan Iqbal Advocate and fixed the case for the next week.
Petitioner Adnan nominated Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) chairman as respondents in the matter.
He maintained in the petition that the respondents had been scandalising the courts by uttering, issuing and broadcasting such statements ridiculing the judiciary.
“Such instances not only bring the honourable courts into hatred, ridicule and contempt but break the trust of the nation on one of the pillars of the state, which is likely to cause riots and turmoil,” the petitioner added.
Adnan said that after Supreme Court announced its verdict in Panama case on July 28, 2017, the respondents were issuing statements in violation of the contempt of court ordinance 2003.
He contended that the respondents had been issuing statements, which were televised on national media.
In Kot Momin public meeting on January 6th, Nawaz Sharif, while addressing Supreme Court said, “this is referendum against your decision, come and see your decision rejected by the nation.”
The petitioner continued that referring to the decision of his disqualification, Nawaz Sharif said, “ask [about] the decision that is causing riots in the state, do not ask Shahid Khaqan Abbasi about the snail’s pace development of the state, ask [about] the decision.”
He said that Maryam Nawaz also “ridiculed” superior judiciary.
She pointed finger at the honesty, bravery and upholding of the rule of law.
According to the petitioner, the Pemra is not blocking such hateful and ridiculing remarks passed against the judiciary.
Therefore, he prayed to the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the respondents under sections 3, 4, 5 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003 read with Article 204 of the Constitution.
He further requested that the respondents might be refrained from issuing such statements as they tend to bring hatred, ridicule and contempt for the judiciary.
The petitioner also prayed that the Pemra might be directed not to broadcast such statements.