PTI-backed candidate apologises to PHC for harassing woman RO

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed independent candidate Ali Zaman Advocate on Thursday submitted a written apology to the Peshawar High Court (PHC) for harassing a woman returning officer (RO) a day before which was accepted by the court and the contempt notice against him withdrawn.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Shakeel Ahmed and Justice Arshad Ali had on Wednesday heard a petition of Ali Zaman who had challenged the results of PK-73.

The bench had issued him a contempt of court notice for harassing the woman RO inside the court and forcibly taking her thumb and signature during the hearing of the petition filed against the alleged alteration of the results of PK-73.

The action was taken when the court was informed that during the break in the hearing, Ali Zaman and his colleagues had surrounded the woman RO and used inappropriate words against her while trying to take her signature and thumb impression on a blank piece of paper. The police took her away safely.

The court had observed that this behavior of the petitioner was a violation of the code of conduct as well as decorum of the court and this action fell under the category of contempt of court. The RO, too, had brought the incident to the notice of the court in writing.

The court later issued the contempt of court notice to the petitioner and asked him to clarify his position on Thursday.

The petitioner and the woman RO appeared in the court when the hearing into the case was resumed.

The bench listened to the arguments from both sides. Justice Shakeel Ahmad asked why inappropriate language was used against the woman RO on the court premises. The applicant said he surrendered before the court. The bench said the applicant should have not done it for being a lawyer.

The court accepted the written apology by Ali Zaman and asked the RO to listen to the complaint filed by the applicant and decide it as per the law.