ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday granted time to two Pakistan Peoples Party Sindh leaders to file replies over a contempt of court issue.
A three-Judge bench of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Muhammad Sair Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani deferred proceedings till April 25 on the request of Taj Haider PPP general secretary Sindh and Sharjeel Memmon, information secretary PPP chapter of Sindh.
The bench heard the suo motu case related to an appeal of Sindh PPP leadership in holding strike against apex Court's verdict in which it had declared appointment of Chairman National Accountability Bureau justice retired Syed Deedar Hussain Shah unconstitutional, who also belonged to the province.
At the outset of proceedings, Taj Haider, appeared and said that he had received the notice and relevant documents few days back and required some time to go through it and file reply.
Similar stance was taken by Sharjeel Memmon.
The Chief Justice told Taj Haider that he had respect for him and his father whom he knew very well.
He said it was Court's prestige and should not be taken as personal issue.
"We are not at ease to issue contempt notices. You are the representatives of the public and ensure respect of this institution. Institutions should be strengthen, you see for the first time, the judiciary is working independently," he added.
The Chief Justice said due to strike six people lost their lives whereas under Article 9 read with Article 4, it was the duty of the provincial government to protect lives of its citizens.
Taj Haider told the bench that it was indeed an unfortunate incident in which PPP workers lost their lives.
The Chief Justice replied that the victims' families should be compensated accordingly.
He said: "We are not attributing the incident to any political party and especially to a large political party. But the people were saying that they suffered greatly due to strike."
Asma Jahangir, president Supreme Court Bar Association, appeared and said that the Sindh government should be directed to conduct inquiries into the criminal cases and perpetrators of the incident should be brought to book, besides, victims families be compensated.
The bench issued direction to the provincial government accordingly.
Asma further said that the court would be on different threshold when dealing with freedom of expression and contempt issue.
She said that there was media speculations about people invading the Court but she did not find anything.
Abdul Hafeez Pirzda appeared and told the bench that he had been directed by the Sindh Chief Minister to remain neutral and assist the Court.
He said once a judgment was made by the Court, it become a public property but the criticism should not amount to contempt.
Agreeing with his stance, the Chief Justice said that Taj Haider had a future in his political career.
He said: "You have the liberty but there must be some parameters. We want that there should be no ridiculing of Court".
Pirzada said that contempt of Court was not a satisfactory law.
Justice Muhammad Sair Ali admitted that contempt of Court was the worst law in statutory law and they always tried to show restraint in exercising it.
Abdul Lateef Afridi vice president Pakistan Bar Council, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, Attorney General for Pakistan Molvi Anwarul Haq, Advocate general Sindh also consented for adjournment.
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