The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed real estate tycoon Malik Riaz to submit unconditional apology within two weeks in a contempt case against him for ridiculing the judiciary. Dr Abdul Basit, the counsel for the chairman Bahria Town, while referring to Section 5(2) of Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003 said even if the charges are framed but the contemnor tenders unconditional apology, the court pardons him. Justice Khosa asked the counsel to consult his client and submit a written apology only then may they consider it.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, heard the contempt matter against founder and chairman of Bahria Town Malik Riaz for holding a press conference at a hotel in Islamabad on June 12, 2012 wherein he allegedly ridiculed the judiciary, particularly the then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
The apex court in July 2012 had issued a contempt notice to Malik Riaz on a note put forward by the Registrar of the Supreme Court under Article 204 of the Constitution read with Section 3 of Contempt of Court Act 2003 and the Supreme Court Rules.
The charges were framed against the chairman Bahria Town in August 2012. The court noted that Malik Riaz had attempted to ridicule the judiciary and its judges. It added that Riaz disrespected the judiciary and caused obstruction to the administration of justice.
The Chief Justice directed Dr Basit if the accused is not fit to appear before the court then file an application for his exemption on the next date of hearing and adjourned the case until February 21, 2019.
Comments
Comments are closed.