Provoking people against court decisions intolerable: SC

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar has said that positive criticism on judgments helps in reformation of judges but provoking the masses against the court is intolerable.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar gave these remarks while hearing a contempt of court case against Senator Taj Haider on Wednesday. A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Umar Bandial and Justice Ejazul Ahsen, heard the contempt of court case filed against Senator Taj Haider during the last tenure of the PPP on holding a controversial press conference against a court decision which declared appointment of Justice Dildar Hussain Shah as chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) null and void.

While submitting written reply to the court, Taj Haider said that he respected the courts with the core of his heart from day one and could never think about the contempt of court. He pleaded to dispose of case.

The chief justice told Taj Haider that he had given strike call by declaring decisions of court biased. Taj Haider said that four chief justices were appointed in the Supreme Court after the retirement of former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, but none of them held trial of this case. The chief justice said that they wanted to see subject of his (Taj Haider) press conference. On it, the senator said that he had appealed for holding peaceful strike during his press conference. When the court asked him about tendering apology, he said that he would be ready for it if the court apprehended it so.

Justice Umar Bandial remarked that there was seriousness in his (Taj Haider) words and it seemed that he did not want to provoke people at that time. The chief justice remarked that the court decisions could be criticised, but at a limit while positive criticism helped the court in its rectification. He said that it is unacceptable to provoke people for violence against the decisions of court.

Taj Haider said that former chief justice was satisfied with his reply and he could never think to abuse the court. Later, the court, while declaring reply of Taj Haider satisfactory, disposed of the case with order to withdraw notice against him.