The Supreme Court of Pakistan framed contempt of court charges against Inspector General Police Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmad, Senior Superintendent, Islamabad, Captain (Retd) Zafar Iqbal, Chief Commissioner Khalid Pervaiz, Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad, Mohammad Ali Jamil, DSP Hashmi, SHO Rukhsar Mehdi and Security Guard to IG Siraj Ahmad, Islamabad here on Wednesday.
The charge said " That you on 13.3.2007 in the afternoon, by grossly manhandling Honourable Mr Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and by acts of omission and commission brought into disrepute and ridicule the authority of the court and grossly interfered with the course of administration of justice by acting in a highly contemptuous and disrespectful manner to the Honourable chief justice and, thereby committed to contemplating of this court, punishable under section 4 of the 'Contempt of Court Act 1976' read with Article 204 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973." The court adjourned the hearing till April 11.
A three-bench of the Supreme Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani and Justice Nasirul Mulk was hearing the case of manhandling of Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry by police.
Deputy Attorney General, Raja Muhammad Irshad appeared before the court on notice and assisted the court. Mujeeb-ur-Rehman advocate and Qazi Muhammad Amin appeared before the court as counsels of the Chief Commissioner Islamabad and Deputy Commissioner Islamabad respectively.
The bench directed both the counsels to file their power of attorney in advance and then they would be allowed to address the court. Inspector General and other officials made request to grant time for submitting their written statements before the court, which was accepted by the bench.
Talking to mediamen about the orders of the court whether it is an indictment or a show-cause notice, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman advocate said, "All the respondents have been allowed time to file their written statements without entering to a specific plea on Wednesday. We will file our written statements within the given time according to the direction of the court".
It is pertinent to mention here the Enquiry Tribunal consisting of Justice Ejaz Afzal of the Peshawar High Court prepared the inquiry report on the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan recorded statements of various police officials including; Inspector General of Police and others was nominated by the Supreme Court as Inquiry Officer to investigate the reported incident occurred on March 13 with Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while coming to the Supreme Court of Pakistan from his official residence.