The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the contempt of court petition filed against prime minister and Pakistani ambassador to UN Dr. Maleha Lodhi for their speeches in United Nations in the English language.
A three-judge bench of apex court headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed conducted the hearing of the case.
The petitioners included Kakub Khawaja, Mehmood Akhter Naqvi, Mian Zahid Naqvi and others. In their petition they told the court that PM Nawaz Sharif and permanent ambassador of Pakistan to UN delivered their speeches in English during the session of General Assembly, which is in violation of courts order.
During the hearing of the case, Justice Fiaz Esa observed that the UN does not permit speech delivery in Urdu as per its rules and regulations and SC cannot impose its verdict on the UN.
Justice Gulzar Ahmed in his remarks observed that petitioners should file a petition regarding implementation of the court’s verdict for the enforcement of Urdu instead of filing contempt of court.
Justice Dost Muhammad in his remarks said that Dr. Maleh Lodhi did not know Urdu adding that at least two years were required for her to learn Urdu and the court wants implementation of national language.
The apex court rejected the petition filed against PM and permanent ambassador of Pakistan to UN Dr. Maleha Lodhi and has ordered the government to submit report regarding measures taken for the enforcement of Urdu.
