Contempt of court: LHC declares plea against Maryam non upheld

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday has declared a plea, seeking to initiate contempt of court proceedings against PMLN Vice President and Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz, as non-maintainable.

Justice Shujaat Ali heard the plea filed by Advocate Shahid Rana against the PML-N leaders Maryam Nawaz and Azam Nazir Tarar.

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In his plea, Advocate Rana took the ground that Maryam Nawaz had committed the offence on six occasions during her speech in Sargodha and the matter fell in the LHC’s jurisdiction, adding that he had not moved court for gaining attention. “We need to get the contempt of court law acted upon,” he added. The plaintiff maintained the court should issue Ms Nawaz a show-cause notice, adding that Pakistan was not a banana republic.

He cited six remarks made by the PML-N leader as contemptuous: “Tola of five is responsible for [the] present situation”, “there should be suo muto on the call recordings of judges”.

“When [the] long march of Imran Khan failed then conspirators picked judges amongst judiciary”. “If courts wait a person for four days then [a] bad impression goes in public”. “When the establishment threw this garbage then two or three judges picked up that basket on their heads” and “no Fitna like Imran Khan will blessed by judges of the Supreme Court and will rescued”.

He contended in his petition that “Maryam Nawaz scandalized the superior court before the whole country and committed contempt offenses”.

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After conducted initial hearing, LHC Judge reserved the verdict. Which announced minutes later, declaring it as ‘non-maintainable’. Justice Shujaat Ali declared that the matter fell in the jurisdiction of Islamabad High Court (IHC).