PESHAWAR: Provincial revenue minister Ali Amin Gandapur has tendered an unconditional apology to the Peshawar High Court in a contempt of court case in which he was accused of scandalising the judiciary in a news conference addressed by him last month.

A single-member bench consisting of Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel fixed June 3 for the next hearing into the case asking Mr. Gandapur, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority chairman Absar Alam and management of a private Pashto television channel to submit written replies to the charge of committing the contempt of court.

It observed that his apology would be considered after the submission of the replies.

Mr. Gandapur appeared along with his lawyer, Abdul Lateef Afridi, whereas Absar Alam also turned up along with his counsel, Asghar Khan Kundi.

Director administration (north) of the said TV channel retired colonel Mushtaq Ahmad and editor in-charge (north) Hazrat Khan Mohmand also appeared before the bench and submitted audio and video recordings of the news conference addressed by Mr. Gandapur in Dera Ismail Khan on Apr 23.

Lateef Afridi said the contempt of court notice was issued to Mr. Gandapur for addressing a news conference.

He insisted that his client had not used any contemptuous words for the judiciary and he held judiciary in high esteem.

The lawyer added that Mr. Gandapur had tendered an unconditional apology. The bench observed that he should submit proper written reply to the notice issued to him.

The PHC registrar had issued a notice to Mr. Gandapur on April 25 wherein it was stated that he had leveled baseless allegations against the chief justice regarding interference in developmental projects of DI Khan district, which was tantamount to scandalising the superior judiciary.

In his reply to the said notice, Mr Gandapur had denied that he had ever tried to scandalise the court and had stated that he had mentioned one Shoaib Miankhel, a contractor of civil work, of misusing the name of the chief justice for blackmailing government officials. He claimed that he said Shoaib Miankhel was contractor for different roads on which he had even not start works despite the fact that financial year was nearing its end.

He maintained that he could not even think of scandalising or bringing into hatred the worthy chief justice. He added that the local press had wrongly published the news item which had created a wrong impression.

Meanwhile, the bench adjourned to June 13 the hearing into a contempt of court case against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council, which had observed a strike over conviction of lawyer Fakharyab Khan, who was also an employee of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited.

The said lawyer was convicted last month by a judicial magistrate for committing contempt of court and was sentenced to 10 days imprisonment with fine of Rs1,000.

Against that conviction, the KP Bar Council had observed a strike and also held demonstration wherein the name plaques outside the courtrooms of the Chief Justice and Peshawar district and sessions judge were also removed.

The high court was of the opinion that the said lawyer was an employee of SNGPL and the bar council was not justified in boycotting courts on his conviction.

Advocate General Abdul Lateef Yousafzai, who by the virtue of his post is the bar council’s chairman, said they had filed reply to the notice.

He added that advocate Tariq Khan Afridi was the vice chairman of the council and that he had gone to appear before the Supreme Court in a case.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
Updated 19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...