Crtiticism of verdicts everyone’s right: CJ

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday dismissed contempt of court petitions against ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Railways Saad Rafique and Federal Minister for Privatisation Daniyal Aziz as Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar observed that everyone has the right to criticise hudicial verdicts but there should be a limit in this regard.

The Supreme Court dismissed a contempt of court petition against Nawaz Sharif with the observation that the Constitution allows everyone to make fair comments on the decision of the court. A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard a contempt of court petition filed by Sheikh Ahsenuddin advocate and leader of former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s political party.

In his petition Sheikh Ahsenuddin submitted before the court that ex-PM Nawaz Sharif committed contempt during his speeches at the GT Road rally after his disqualification in Panamagate case. The petitioner had claimed that the former PM had crossed the limits in criticising the court’s decision. Chief justice, however, observed that the accused may have crossed the line" in some other comments but it did not appear to be during his speeches at the GT Road rally. Later, the court dismissed the petition.

INP adds: Meanwhile the court also turned down the plea submitted against Saad Rafique in which the petitioner asked to hear only two speeches of the minister. The CJP said that They were forgiving several things. Earlier SC had dismissed contempt of court petitions against Nawaz Sharif Chief Minister of Punjab (CM) Shahbaz Sharif and son-in-law Captain (R) Safdar.

The plaintiff said that Nawaz Sharif delivered speeches against Joint Investigation Team (JIT) which is unlawful over which the CJP said that the former PM used inappropriate words against JIT not the court. “We have record of anti-judiciary speeches of Sharif family which will be raised on a suitable time,” he added.

The court had also disposed of petitions against Federal Minister for Privatisation Daniyal Aziz, Federal Minister for Railways Saad Rafique, ex-PM Yusuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Firdous Ashiq Awan.