ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Chief Executive ARY Television Salman Iqbal, one of the accused in the display of anti-judiciary banners, to join the investigation and asked the investigation officer to coordinate for recording the statement of the accused (Salman Iqbal) and submit report on November 16. The court deferred the prosecuting of Salman Iqbal and Mubashir Lucman in the contempt of court case till November 16 as Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt, the prosecutor, could not appear before the court due to an emergency meeting in the Prime Minister House. A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan and comprising Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Mushir Alam resumed the contempt of court case against Salman Iqbal and Mubashir Lucman, anchorperson, for maligning the judiciary while airing a programme and anti-judiciary banners case. During the hearing Deputy Attorney General Sajid Ilyas Bhatti told the court that Salman Iqbal has recently challenged his warrant of arrest before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) wherein the court has suspended his arrest warrant but directed him to join the investigation. SP Investigation Ahmed Iqbal submitted that for the arrest of accused (Salman Iqbal) he went to Lahore and Karachi but they could not get the accused. Anwar Mansoor Khan, counsel for Salman Iqbal, submitted that they have already written a letter to IG Islamabad for joining the investigation. The court directed Salman Iqbal to join the investigation and directed the investigation officer to coordinate for recording the statement of the accused and submit report on the next date of hearing. Earlier, Sheikh Ahsenuddin and Taufeeq Asif, the petitioners in the anti-judiciary case, also appeared before the court. Sheikh Ahsenuddin submitted that despite the court’s repeated orders, still the mastermind in anti-judiciary banners case was not apprehended. He contended that despite the fact that they have even provided the details of number plates of the vehicles used for placing the anti-judiciary banners in the federal capital and Rawalpindi but still the investigation report is clueless about the mastermind. Ahsen said this is a dishonest investigation lacking data. The court asked the petitioner if he wants to give any additional information to the investigation, he can do so.The court also heard contempt of court against Salman Iqbal and Mubashir Lucman for maligning the judiciary while airing a programme. The court expressed dismay over the non-appearance of Attorney General for Pakistan. Justice Ijaz Afzal observed that the learned attorney general should have ensured his presence as he was issued notice. Deputy Attorney General Sajid Ilyas Bhatti submitted that the attorney general had to leave for an emergency meeting in the Prime Minister House.The court deferred the prosecuting of Salman Iqbal and Mubashir Lucman until November 16 and adjourned the case.The court on January 5 had indicted Salman Iqbal and Mubashir in a contempt case for maligning the judiciary while airing a programme.
