LAHORE: Former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal tendered an unconditional apology before a Lahore High Court full bench in contempt proceedings against him, however, the bench deferred decision on the apology till the first week of September.

Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, the head of the bench, observed that the court would monitor the conduct of Mr Iqbal till next hearing as he had been found changing his stance inside and outside the court.

Justice Atir Mahmood and Justice Chaudhry Masood Jahangir were the other members of the bench.

Mr Iqbal’s counsel Azam Nazir Tarar submitted the written unconditional apology before the bench and requested it to dispose of the contempt proceedings against his client.

However, the bench turned down the request and observed that Mr Iqbal first sought apology in the court and later became “jiyala” of a leader who had already launched into a tirade against judiciary.

“Being a political worker you should exercise more tolerance than commoners,” the bench told the former interior minister.

The PPP endured more testing times than the PML-N but never attacked the judiciary, the bench reminded Mr Iqbal adding his party was unique in targeting the judiciary.

Petitioner’s counsel Azhar Siddique argued that the bench would have to see the apology of Mr Iqbal in view of his conduct outside the court. He said the former minister used to change his stance before court and media.

The bench said it would resume hearing after summer vacations in the high court on Sept 5 and would monitor conduct the former minister before taking any decision on his unconditional apology.

In a case about appointments of vice chancellors at public sector universities, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had suspended Prof Dr Uzma Qureshi as vice chancellor of the Lahore College for Women University observing that her appointment was maneuvered by the former interior minister.

Later, then interior minister Iqbal speaking at a seminar in Islamabad had criticized the CJP’s remarks saying the chief justice had no right to name-calling people. He also urged the chief justice to first issue him a charge sheet if had any evidence.

Meanwhile, a division bench also headed by Justice Naqvi adjourned hearing of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s petition against the decision of an appellate tribunal about rejection of his nomination papers from NA-57, Murree and life time disqualification.

The bench would take up the petition on Tuesday (today) along with an identical matter of PTI information secretary Fawad Chaudhry.

Previously, the bench had suspended decisions of the appellate tribunal and allowed both Mr Abbasi and Mr Chaudhry to contest the upcoming general election.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2018