Contempt of court case: SC records Talal Chaudhry's Statement

The Supreme Court (SC) Monday recorded the statement of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Minister of State for Interior Muhammad Talal Chaudhry in the contempt of court case.
A three-member bench comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmad, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Faisal Arab, after recording the statement of Talal Chaudhry under Section 342 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) adjourned further hearing till Wednesday (tomorrow).
The court directed Talal to present his witnesses on the next hearing. The deputy attorney general, who is a prosecutor in the case, appeared before the court on notice. Senior advocate Kamran Murtaza appeared for Talal.
In his statement, Talal requested the court to withdraw the charge of contempt of court against him by not casting doubts on his intentions about the dignity of the court.
He stated that he faces no allegation of prejudicing any matter pending before the court. He further stated that he honestly believes that he had neither uttered anything nor acted in a manner which might be construed as causing obstruction of the process of the court in any way, or that any order of the court had been disobeyed.
He said in past he made good number of speeches, but he was not even served any legal notice by any institution.
Justice Gulzar Ahmad asked Talal: "Had you said that PCO idols are sitting in the court?" Talal didn't deny it; however, he said the whole sentence should be read to make the context clear.
When asked tone of his speeches and words were against the court and whether the tone and words did not warrant contempt of court, Talal stated: "I didn't commit any contempt of court, instead I honour the court."
"Would you get the statement of Section 342 CrPC recorded under oath?" Justice Gulzar Ahmad asked Talal. Talal then stated that he was required to consult his counsel over it. "No need to consult, as you are getting the statement of Section 342 CrPC recorded," Justice Gulzar Ahmad told him.
When asked if it was correct that his speeches were made to the public gatherings, Talal said the statement of May 24, 2017 was not a speech to the public gathering, rather it was a press talk.
He contended that his May 24, 2017 press talk was edited with mala fide intention and many of his sentences were removed from the actual substance to make it controversial. He stated that his January 27, 2018 speech was not against any of the judge. He contended that the video of his speech that was kept on record was also edited with mala fide intention to spoil the actual and original context of his speech.
He said he had stated in his speech that he too honoured 'Baba Rehmtay'. (This word was used by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar for Supreme Court. The CJ had stated that concept of 'Baba Rehmtay' was driven from Ashfaq Ahmed. Baba is the one who provides facilities).
Talal contended that pieces of his press talk were made and later gathered with mala fide intention to make his press talk controversial. He stated that allegations of contempt of court and blasphemy are only levelled against his party.
Talal Chaudhry was indicted on March 15, 2018, on contempt of court charges. Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had taken suo motu notice over Talal's alleged derogatory and contemptuous statements and speeches at PML-N public gatherings against the apex court.