ISLAMABAD: Senator Faisal Vawda on Wednesday tendered an unqualified apology before the Supreme Court in contempt proceedings for his outburst against the judiciary.

The Supreme Court will resume contempt proceedings against Senator Faisal Vawda and MNA Mustafa Kamal for their outburst against the judiciary in separate pressers at the National Press Club.

Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, a three-judge Supreme Court bench will resume the hearing of the contempt of court case on June 28.

Both the politicians were issued show-cause notices under Article 204 of the Constitution, read with Contempt of the Court Ordinance (COCO) of 2003, for hurling apparently malicious allegations against the judiciary as well as judges and for speaking about matters that were sub judice before courts, including the Supreme Court.

CJP-led bench to resume contempt proceedings tomorrow

In an application under Order 27, Rule 7 of the SC Rules 1980, Senator Vawda explained that he had sought guidance from religious scholars about the teachings of the Holy Quran and Ahadees of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and had come to the realisation that the maintenance of a good public image and estimation of the judiciary was vital for the judiciary to be able to perform and become a beacon of hope and prosperity for the people of Pakistan.

“In order to show his utmost respect as per the teaching of Islam for the Honourable Court, the respondent sincerely apologises unconditionally,” said a five-page application.

“The respondent has come to further realisation that despite his best intentions, his press conference may have come across as objectionable,” the statement conceded, adding that in order to ensure the prestige of the judiciary and to uphold the Islamic injunctions concerning the image of the judiciary as communicated to him by religious scholars, he submits himself before the court and deeply regrets any harm that may have been caused by his press conference of May 18, 2024.

Senator Vawda said that he was willing to take any step that the court deemed necessary and appropriate for the satisfaction of the apex court that he never intended to impugn the dignity or independence of the judiciary.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to stand behind the judiciary and other institutions of Pakistan to better the lives of ordinary citizens.

He requested the Supreme Court to withdraw the show-cause notice it issued to him.

The statement added that he was deeply moved by the recitation of the Holy Quran — Surah Hujurat — and the references made to the Ahadees Mubarak of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) by the CJP along with the advice given that the matter was not about anyone’s personal ego and that as parliamentarian, one ought to act more cautiously to work towards the establishment of a better image of the judiciary for the betterment of the people.

It would be adverse to the interests of the people if two constitutional bodies were seen to be standing against each other, Senator Vawda said, adding that after the hearing on May 6, he met different religious scholars and consulted them on what his role should be as a senator and a Muslim with respect to the judiciary and how he ought to conduct himself in the light of the Holy Quran and Ahadees, the statement claimed.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2024