ISLAMABAD, April 2: The Supreme Court on Monday served contempt of court notices on senior administrative and police hierarchy of Islamabad for roughing up “non-functional” Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry in order to prevent him from marching towards the apex court to answer the allegation of misuse of office before the Supreme Judicial Council.

A three-member bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and Justice Nasirul Mulk decided to frame contempt of court charges against “delinquent” officers because only four of seven, held responsible by a judicial tribunal appointed to inquire into the indent, appeared before the court.

The bench has taken up the inquiry report of Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan of the Peshawar High Court on manhandling of the chief justice.

The officers who will be indicted for mistreating the chief justice are Islamabad Chief Commissioner Khalid Pervez, Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Mohammad Ali, Inspector General of Police Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmad, Senior Superintendent of Police Zafar Iqbal Awan, Deputy Superintendent of Police (I-9 Circle) Jamil Hashmi, Secretariat Police Station SHO Rukhsar Mehdi and a security guard of the IGP, Siraj Ahmad.

On March 20, Justice Javed Iqbal, while acting as the acting chief justice, had appointed Justice Ejaz Afzal to probe and fix responsibility on delinquent officers, ascertain its causes and suggest means to avoid such incidents in future. After recording evidence of journalists, police officers and other witnesses, the inquiry commission had submitted its report to the Supreme Court on Friday last.

In its findings, the tribunal had held that a case of contempt of court for bringing the authority of the court into ridicule and by interfering with the course of administration of justice was made out against these officers.

While conceding that the decision of the suspended chief justice to go on foot to the Supreme Court on March 13 had caused concern and even alarm in the minds of the senior executive and police officers whose sole concern was to ensure his safe escort, the report stated that use of force or mishandling of the chief justice was not the answer or solution to the problem.

On Monday, Deputy Attorney-General Raja Irshad told the court that the instant proceedings were in the nature of contempt of court as well as independent criminal proceedings.

He informed the court that he was here only to assist it and that he tended to agree on the findings of the tribunal in which culpability had been determined against the officers. However, it would be fair if an opportunity was given to the officers to explain their position, he suggested.

Mr Irshad will also prosecute the charge of contempt of court against the officers.