LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday allowed time to two parliamentarians of the PML-N and four others to submit their unconditional apology in writing and also directed a law officer/prosecutor to furnish the list of the witnesses in the anti-judiciary rally case.

Earlier, the six contemnors appeared before a three-judge full bench and reiterated that they made a mistake. They said, “We admit our mistake and throw ourselves at the mercy of the court.” They reiterated that they had complete regard for courts.

The contemnors complained that the trial court was not entertaining their bail petitions in the case lodged against them on terrorism charges.

At this, bench head Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi summoned Member Inspection Team (MIT) of the high court and asked him to convey to the anti-terrorism court concerned that the contempt proceedings pending before the bench had no connection with the FIR of the case.

The judge observed that the trial court was free to proceed on the suspects’ bail petitions in accordance with law.

The bench adjourned further hearing till May 22 and directed the contemnors to first submit their apology in writing as verbal apology had no value in the eye of law.

The contemnors including MNA Waseem Akhtar and MPA Naeem Safdar, municipal chairman Ayaz Khan, vice-chairman Ahmad Latif, Nasir Khan and Jamil Khan were indicted on contempt of court charges on last hearing. They had denied the charges and the bench directed them to submit their replies.

Kasur District Bar Association President Mirza Naseem and others had filed the petitions pleading that the protest rally taken out by the parliamentarians and local government leaders affiliated with the ruling PML-N was a planned conspiracy against the institution of judiciary.

The petitioners said the act of the respondent parliamentarians amounted to contempt of court and they were all liable to be punished under the law.

They asked the court to also declare the respondents disqualified besides initiating contempt proceedings against them.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2018