Supreme Court indicts Talal Chaudhry for contempt of court

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday indicted   State Minister for Interior Affairs Talal Chaudhry in contempt of court case.

The minister pleaded not guilty as charges against him were read out  by a judge of the apex court, according to TV channels.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan was hearing the case against the firebrand leader of the ruling party.

The court had  issued contempt of court notice to the  Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader  on Feb 1.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Feb 24 filed written reply with Supreme Court (SC) to show-cause notice in contempt of court case taking the plea that his statements had been taken out of context due to media reporting.

Talal Chaudhry said  his statements had been taken out of context due to media reporting. The speeches were translated in negative manner to create sensation, he maintained.

He further said in his reply that he could not even think of insulting or ridiculing the court.

“I have not said anything which has led to impede judiciary job or due to which any non-compliance has taken place. I respect SC. I have always struggled for supremacy of the constitution,” he said.

“I have not done anything intentionally or unintentionally which amounts to contempt of court. I exercised my right of expression within ambit of law.

He prayed the court to withdraw the contempt of court show-cause notice.

The indictment comes days after Minister for Privatization Daniyal Aziz was charge-sheeted for  contempt of court.

The court has also summoned former  Senator Nihal Hashmi on March 26  for a speech against the judges of the apex court following his release from Adila Jail where he spent one month for contempt of court after losing his Senate seat.