Pakistan’s Supreme Court has issued a contempt of court notice to Agha Iftikhar-ud-Din Mirza, accused of mocking the judiciary and threatening Justice Faiz, seeking a reply within seven days, while the accused’s unconditional pardon was also rejected.
Islamabad – The court ruled that the language used against the judiciary while sitting on a member (ممبر) was not used even in the streets and intersections. The accused’s lawyer said that Agha is a heart patient, his heart arteries are closed. The Chief Justice asked why his heart did not stop beating when he was speaking.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that if the order of the Supreme Court comes, they get dizzy. The Supreme Court, while issuing a show-cause notice to the accused Agha Iftikhar-ud-Din Mirza under Section 5 of the Contempt of Court Act, said that why not take contempt action.
Under Section 5 of the Contempt of Court Act, a person convicted of contempt of court can be sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of Rs 100,000 or both.
When the hearing began, accused Iftikhar-ud-Din Mirza’s lawyer Sarkar Abbas appeared and said that his client had submitted an unconditional apology.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that the words used by the accused for the judges of the Supreme Court are in an impolite language. Is it enough to apologize after using such rude and insulting language against the judiciary? The principle of unconditional apology is clear, the unconditional apology should be beyond fear, the apology was sought after the court notice. Accused Agha Iftikhar-ud-Din Mirza’s lawyer said that his client did not know the severity of the statement, he spoke in a private meeting.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that after the evening prayers, the statement was made in the presence of seven people sitting on the member and the video was made, as far as the argument is concerned that the video was uploaded without permission, the matter requires further investigation. The unconditional apology of the accused is tantamount to confessing the crime in itself. When it is said that the accused did nothing then why the apology is being sought.
The Chief Justice said that the statement submitted by the accused Iftikhar-ud-Din Mirza did not meet the legal requirements. How can the Oath Commissioner verify that the person giving the statement is the one who is present before him? Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan asked how the Oath Commissioner sitting in the court could know who was giving the statement. Expressing anger, Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed said, “Don’t take things so lightly. This is not a trivial matter. We send the accused to jail for six months.” During the hearing of the case, an interesting conversation took place between the lawyer of the accused Iftikhar-ud-Din Mirza and the Chief Justice. The lawyer of the accused said that my client is a heart patient, all the arteries of his heart are closed. The Chief Justice asked why the accused did not control his tongue at that time.
Didn’t the heart beat faster when he was delivering a hot speech? Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that the accused did not make any video, accused Iftikhar-ud-Din Mirza is running the entire video channel. The Chief Justice said that the accused used to earn money by uploading videos. The lawyer of the accused said that my client is currently undergoing treatment at PIMS Hospital. He is a poor man. The poor man will die. May the court have mercy on him.
Justice Ejaz-ul-Ahsan said that the language used by the accused for the judiciary was not used even in the streets and intersections. Such language was used by a religious scholar. Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that the accused has a web TV and has subscribers. The accused’s lawyer said that Allah also forgives. The Chief Justice said that there are many sins that cannot be forgiven. “The anti-terrorism provisions do not apply to my client,” the lawyer said.
The video was uploaded by a 15-year-old boy. Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that you have a full legal right to challenge the provisions of terrorism in the relevant forum. The accused said something in the statement of Khalafi. The accused’s lawyer said that he had also brought his client’s medical report.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said, “Do you want to set this example? First, make an insulting video of the judiciary and then apologize and save your life. The judiciary is an institution of the country.” The Attorney General said that the accused mocked the entire judiciary. The accused is currently in the hospital. The accused is a heart patient but his ECG has just returned to normal.
The accused says he is dizzy. Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that when the order of the Supreme Court comes, dizziness will come but why this dizziness did not come when the accused were making flames. During the hearing, a letter was asked to be presented by the wife of Justice Qazi Faiz Issa.
When a lawyer came to the rostrum and said that he had appeared on behalf of two TV anchors, the court refused to listen to him and ordered him to leave the rostrum. Addressing the anchor’s lawyer, the Chief Justice said, “Go back.” The court ruled that the statement of unconditional apology was submitted by Khalafi through Oath Commissioner Asad Abbas Jafari. The legal requirements were not fulfilled in Khalafi’s statement.
The accused threw all the rubble on the other person, we reject the unconditional apology. The court said that apparently this case falls under the category of contempt of court. Showcase notices are issued to accused Iftikhar-ud-Din Mirza under section five of the contempt of court law.
Defendants must respond to a contempt of court notice within seven days. The court directed the FIA to produce the accused in the Supreme Court on July 15 along with the report.
The matter indeed requires our attention. The practices we do in Pakistan must be stopped forthwith.