By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: Justice Shujaat Ali Khan of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Tuesday sought the assistance of a petitioner’s lawyer on how a case pertaining to contemptuous remarks against the Supreme Court judges could be heard in the high court.
Justice Shujaat Ali Khan heard the plea seeking contempt proceedings against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz senior vice president Maryam Nawaz in connection with allegedly passing contemptuous remarks as many as six times during her speech at a convention in Sargodha days back.
As the proceedings commenced, the petitioner’s lawyer advocate Rana Shahid discussed the contemptuous remarks made by the PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz. He pleaded the leaders such as Bill Clinton and Joe Biden did not use such a language, that means “this practice does not exist in civilized societies”.
Under which article petition was filed: LHC
When asked under what article the petition was filed, the counsel said that it was filed under Article 204 of the constitution, adding that any person who commits contempt could be charged with six-month imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs100,000. Justice Shujaat Ali Khan asked against whom the contempt was committed. Directing the petitioner’s lawyer to read sub-clause 2 of Article 187, the judge posed a question how this case falls under the Lahore High Court’s jurisdiction.
“This matter contains contemptuous remarks about the judges of the apex court,” the judge noted, questioning how the Lahore High Court could hear the matter. Advocate Rana Shahid representing the petitioner responded that Maryam Nawaz had also committed contempt by scandalizing the Lahore High Court judges who were hearing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan’s protective bail. “Do you have any judgment in your support?” Justice Shujaat asked. The lawyer requested the court to adjourn the hearing, assuring he would return with supporting court judgments. The court then adjourned the proceedings till March 1.
