ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court will take up a contempt matter on Tuesday (today) relating to a video clip showing objectionable and inappropriate utterances by PPP representative Masoodur Rehman Abbasi against Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed.

A three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan will take up the matter on a suo motu after the 23rd Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) at its meeting demanded stern action against the false accusations made in the video clip and also called upon the federal government and its associated law enforcement agencies to arrest him and put him behind bars so that he could be made an example for the public at large in such a manner that no one dares to repeat this vulgarism ever against judges.

The SCBA also demanded necessary steps at the earliest to remove the video clip from social media and to take other steps for safety and security of judges and their families.

Posting of video against CJP draws condemnation

Mr Abbasi is a local leader of the PPP in Sindh.

The SCBA, while condemning the inappropriate, nonsensical and foul language used against the CJP under the banner of the Pakistan Peoples Party, said indeed it was very unfortunate that such obnoxious remarks have been passed by an uncouth person who prefers to be a public representative.

Use of such filthy language against the CJP, who is not only a great human being but is also a highly respected, honest and upright justice, is highly condemnable, the executive committee said, adding that the association alongside the entire legal community was deeply shocked by such an inappropriate slander against the CJP and consider the same as an “assault on judiciary” which shall never be permitted.

“It is very unfortunate that our political culture is constantly permitting use of vulgar and disgusting language against anyone simply on the basis of difference of opinion and silence of the political regime is actually exacerbating this menace,” the SCBA said.

Therefore, it would be better if the leadership of the party concerned may issue a clarification and announce its disengagement and disassociation from such foulmouthed person and initiate disciplinary action against him, the executive committee said.

Nevertheless, the SCBA is of the view that one can disagree with the decisions of judges in a civilised manner, but to humiliate judges because of their decisions is absolutely unacceptable.

The SCBA also reiterated its commitment that it will not allow any insult to the honour and dignity of judges. Let anyone not be mistaken to disrespect and question the dignity and independence of judges, the judiciary, or the institution in the wake of ulterior moves to defame judges with false and malicious accusations, the statement said.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2021