SC to indict PPP leader over derogatory speech against CJP

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) will indict Masood-ur-Rehman, an activist of Pakistan People’s Party and the alleged contemnor, over his derogatory speech against Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed.

A four-member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, heard the contempt of court proceedings against the PPP activist.

The court appointed Attorney General Khalid Javed to prosecute the alleged contemnor and adjourned the hearing for framing the charge. In pursuance of court’s earlier order, Masood-ur-Rehman submitted a hand-written reply in the contempt matter. The court, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the reply and observed that the instant reply was not sufficient. “If you want to tender an apology, it has to be submitted as per the required standard,” Justice Bandial told the alleged contemnor.

Additional Attorney General Sohail Mahmood submitted that before proceeding in the matter, the court may charge the alleged contemnor on that date or subsequent date after receiving the evidence.

The court then decided to indict the alleged contemnor and appointed Attorney General as prosecutor for framing the charge against the alleged contemnor.

Earlier, at the outset of hearing, Masood submitted that he was tendering an apology, saying he respected the judiciary as well as all the institutions.

Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi asked the alleged contemnor as to why he made a derogatory speech and on whose directions.

The judge asked the FIA to investigate that on whose directions the alleged contemnor made a speech. “Such a speech cannot be made without planning,” Justice Mazahir Naqvi observed.

The FIA submitted that the alleged contemnor was being interrogated and his physical remand had been granted by the court. The FIA assured the court that whosoever found guilty of provoking the alleged contemnor for making such a speech, would not be spared.

“I seek apology,” Masood-ur-Rehman pleaded, adding that he was ready to tender an apology.

Justice Bandial observed that the court would proceed in accordance with the law.

Justice Bandial asked Masood about other people, present at the venue during the speech. The function was held at a wedding hall wherein all the district office-bearers of the party were present.

“You termed the Chief Justice a sector in-charge of a political party. Who guided you to make such a statement,” Justice Bandial asked the alleged contemnor.

“Nobody guided me and I made the speech on my own,” Masood replied.

Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing for date-in-office and decided that the alleged contemnor would be indicted for which the court appointed Attorney General as prosecutor for framing the charge against Masood-ur-Rehman.

The FIA had told the Supreme Court that the audio and video in which Masood-ur-Rehman, General Secretary PPP Sindh, made indecent and disrespectful remarks about the chief justice of Pakistan was genuine and no editing was made in the video/audio.