The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the authorities concerned to present former senator of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Faisal Raza Abidi before it on May 3. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar was hearing contempt case against ex-senator PPP for anti-judiciary remarks in a television talk show. The court had also issued contempt of court notice to the private television channel, which telecast the contemptuous show.
The court on Tuesday last issued contempt of court notice to Faisal Raza Abidi under Article 204 of the 1973 Constitution read with Section 3 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003, directing him to ensure his appearance before it on Wednesday. Despite being summoned, Abidi did not turn up before the bench.
The Chief Justice expressed dismay over his non-appearance and directed that he must be arrested and presented before the court on the next hearing. At the onset of hearing, the Chief Justice insisted where that person (Abidi) was who openly abused the court, adding is it the freedom of speech and expression?
The counsel for the private television channel apprised the court that his client had already apologized, besides sacking the anchor person who had conducted the show in which judiciary was abused by Faisal Raza Abidi. "Why was the program not checked before it went on air?" the Chief Justice questioned, adding that apologizing after airing the contemptuous show is not an excuse. He said the channel in question should be ashamed of it. The court then rejected the apology and issued notice to the channel, besides directing the police concerned to arrest and produce former senator on the next hearing. The hearing was adjourned till May 3.