Nawaz Sharif summoned in contempt case

The order said: “Issue notice to the respondents to appear in the court on the next date of hearing to show cause as to why action should not be taken against them as contemplated under Article 204 of the Constitution and Sections 3 and 4 of the Contempt of Court Act 1976.”

Apart from Sharif others who have been asked to appear before the court in the case are Law Minister Khalid Anwar, five other parliamentarians, editors of three leading newspapers and Pakistani television. The contempt petition was filed by Mohammad Ikram Choudhury, additional secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association, after Sharif and other members of his ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) criticised the apex court for suspending the operation of the anti-defection law.

Sharif, during a press conference, had allegedly described the Supreme Court’s order as “unlawful and unconstitutional” and had said the judgement will “encourage horse trading” in Pakistan politics.

The press conference and proceedings of the National Assembly, during which several members also criticised the Supreme Court, was shown on the government controlled television (PTV), which also showed some cartoons about judiciary.

As per an earlier order of the bench, the PTV has already submitted before the court the video recordings of the Press conference by the Prime Minister on October 29 and 30 and also speeches and interviews of the members of Parliament, details of cartoons shown and PTV Khabarnama on October 30.

These will be taken into consideration by the court during the proceedings. The counsel for the Prime Minister, S M Zafar, told the court he had met his client yesterday during which Sharif had expressed regards for judiciary particularly the apex court.

Ikram Choudhary said now a formal charge has been framed against all the respondents and if the charge is proved then the punishment may be imprisonment upto six months and Rs 5,000 fine while the disqualification from the Parliament will be consequential.

After today’s notice to Sharif, it seems confrontation between the government-judiciary is still continuing and Chief Justice Shah is determined to take all the cases against the government to its logical conclusion.