Contempt plea against Pemra chief dismissed as withdrawn

ISLAMABAD: In a petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against Pemra Chairman Absar Alam, an Islamabad High Court (IHC) bench remarked that disobedience to court orders is contempt of court.  People say various things, and it is not possible to stop them from commenting.

Has Absar Alam disobeyed any court orders? To this, petitioner’s counsel replied in negative. The petition was filed in the court by an ARY television anchor Arshad Sharif alleging contempt of court against the Pemra Chairman for his press conference. 

After the first said discussion between IHC Justice Athar Minallah and Arshad Sharif’s counsel; the counsel sought permission from the court to withdraw this petition. It was later dismissed as withdrawn.

Referring to Absar’s press conference, Arshad Sharif has been contending that he committed contempt of court when he said that courts creating hindrances in the functioning of Pemra by issuing stay orders. Sharif further alleged that Alam had said that the courts have been exercising Pemra powers. 

Justice Athar Minallah said that the independence and honour of the court is not jeopardised by the allegations of some persons. Not implementing or disobeying court orders is contempt of court, he also said. The IHC bench questioned the petitioner’s counsel Shoaib Razzaq, advocate, that whether Absar Alam disobeyed any court orders to which he replied in negative. The IHC bench said that such comments do not affect the independence of judiciary. The petitioner then requested the court to allow him to withdraw the petition that was allowed.