SC convicts Daniyal in contempt of court proceedings

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday found former federal minister for privatization, Daniyal Aziz guilty in contempt of court proceedings and sentenced him with imprisonment till rising of the court.

The court ruled that Aziz had attempted to scandalize the court, its judges and bring its authority to hatred, ridicule, disrespect and interfered with prejudiced proceedings of law.

The contemnor has made himself liable to contempt of court within the contemplation of Article 204 (2) (b) of the Constitution read with the Section 3 of the contempt of court ordinance, 2003 punishable under Section 5 of the said ordinance, the judgment read.

The top court bench stated, "Taking lenient view of the matter we convict him under Section 5 of the said ordinance and sentence him with imprisonment till the rising of the court on Thursday."

Justice Mashir Alam, a member judge of the bench read out the high-profile verdict which was reserved by a three-judge bench headed by Justice Sheikh Gulzar Ahmed, earlier on May 3 when both prosecution and defendant concluded their arguments.

The bench deliberately taking lenient view of the matter did not send Daniyal Aziz to prison for six months.

After announcement of the judgment, Daniyal remained stand till rising of the court.

Daniyal Aziz, later, talking to media persons outside the court premises said he was convicted of the act which he did not commit, however he would decide further legal course of action when he would receive a copy of the detailed verdict.

It is pertinent to mention here that on February 7, the apex court had issued a notice to Daniyal Aziz for contempt of court over an "anti-judiciary" speech made by him. On March 13, the Supreme Court had indicted Aziz in the contempt case under the Contempt of the Court Ordinance 2003, read with Article 204 of the Constitution, for making derogatory and contemptuous speeches and statements against the apex court, which were also telecast by different television channels.

The Supreme Court bench had observed that Daniyal Aziz had "committed to scandalise the court". Aziz had, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

The charges against him were that Daniyal while addressing a press conference on September 8 last year, had accused Justice Ijazul Ahsan of summoning NAB authorities in Lahore for preparing corruption references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his family members and Ishaq Dar.