ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted time till June 21 to Malik Riaz Hussain, a real estate business tycoon, to arrange his counsel in the contempt of court matter.
The three-member bench of Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Tariq Parvez and Justice Amir Hani Muslim resumed the hearing on a show cause notice in contempt taken upon a press conference addressed by Malik Riaz, clubbed with a constitutional petition moved by Chaudhry Ashraf Gujjar.
The bench, however, rejected a plea by a petitioner to put Malik Riaz's name on the Exit Control List (ECL), by saying that there was no need for it as in response to the court's notices he arrived from London and appeared before it and then in instant contempt notice, he also made his appearance.
The bench told Malik Riaz not to seek anymore time after seven days.
Malik Riaz said that he was trying to contact lawyers but so far could not arrange anyone and assured the bench that he would arrange a counsel for himself soon.
To a contention of petitioner Chaudhry Ashraf Gujjar, Malik Riaz also assured that he would not say anything about judiciary.
Defending his position over a press conference, he said that he did not ridicule the judiciary.
Further hearing was adjourned till June 21.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court had issued the show cause notice to Malik Riaz for addressing a press conference on the pending issue of alleged favours upon son of Chief Justice of Pakistan and bringing the judiciary into ridicule.
The suo motu was taken on a note put forward by the Registrar of the Supreme Court and a separate plea moved by Chaudhry Ashraf Gujjar advocate, former president of Islamabad High Court Bar.
The bench in its order noted that prima facie, after going through the contents of the press conference, Malik Riaz had attempted at ridiculing the court and the judges of this court.
The bench said Malik had showed disrespect for the judiciary and caused obstruction in administration of justice.
The bench issued notices under Article 204 of the Constitution, read with Section 3 of Contempt of Court Act 2003 and relevant provisions of the Supreme Court Rules.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
