'Contemptuous statement': LHC directs Ahsan to submit written explanation by June 5
The Lahore High Court on Wednesday came down hard upon Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and directed him to submit written explanation by June 5 for his "contemptuous statement" he gave in reaction to the remarks of Chief Justice of Pakistan about his (minister) role in appointment of vice chancellor of a women university. The court rejecting the plea of the minister's counsel to see the statement in court room on projector observed, "We just want to see it for our own knowledge".
The bench snubbed the minister, referred to Article 68 of the constitution and said when "the conduct of a superior court judge could not be discussed even in the parliament then how did you do that before the public".
The minister said, "I can't even think about disgracing the courts and I just said so in a way of complaint". At this, one of the bench member observed that "It is because of your motivation that Kasur incident took place wherein the derogatory language was used against the judiciary".
The minister said, "No, We can't even think about that". At this, the court asked him about the action taken against the accused belonging to Kasur. "It is the provincial domain. We would have taken strict action if any such incident had happened in Islamabad. And yes, we took action against a group of protestors who gathered outside the Supreme Court and they were booked," the minister replied.
"Tone down your voice," Justice Naqvi reprimanded the minister when he spoke to explain his position. "You are a politician and you don't know the expression," the judge further said and asked the petitioner's counsel to read Article 19 of the Constitution before the minister so that he could know the respect of the state institutions. The minister reiterated that "I hold the judiciary in high esteem and could never think about disgracing the courts". The court rose till June 05.





















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