— CJP Nisar warns Liaquat won’t be pardoned if he violates court orders again
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday wrapped up a contempt of court case after Member National Assembly (MNA) and TV anchor Aamir Liaquat Hussain issued an apology to Jang Group and Geo News.
The TV anchor was pardoned by the apex court over the matter after Liaquat issued his apology.
The case was closed after a three-member bench of the Supreme Court chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar resumed hearing over the matter.
“My client regrets his action and is issuing an unconditional apology,” said Liaquat’s legal representative as the hearing began.
“It does not seem from his face that he regrets his action,” CJP Nisar responded.
“I sent apologies to all judges hearing the case, including you, at your respective chambers,” Liaquat informed the top judge.
Jang Group and Geo News legal representative Faisal Siddiqui informed that his clients had directed to oppose the apology by Liaquat.
CJP Nisar then remarked that cases concerning contempt of court lie between the court and the individual accused.
At this, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA issued another apology.
“I am extremely ashamed and apologise knowing that if I repeat such a blunder in the future that I may not be entitled to a pardon,” he said.
“You worked for a long time with Mir Shakilur Rehman and we will write in our order that you apologised to him and his son Mir Ibrahim,” the top judge then remarked.
“I tender an apology to Mir Shakilur Rehman, Mir Ibrahim and Geo and Jang Group,” Liaquat responded.
“You will not be pardoned if you do not comply with court orders again,” CJP Nisar remarked after the TV anchor said that he would not again repeat the offence.
The bench then accepted the PTI MNA’s apology and wrapped up the case.
In August, the SC had slapped on Hussain a contempt of court charge while taking up petitions filed by anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada, Independent Media Corporation (Pvt) Ltd, Mir Ibrahimur Rehman and Najam Aziz Sethi accusing Hussain of flouting a March 28, 2017 restraining order in which he was cautioned to desist from defamatory campaigns and unethical manner of conducting television shows.
Issuing a contempt notice to Hussain, CJP Nisar had questioned whether someone who is not aware of what to say on a public forum should be a parliamentarian.
On October 30, the apex court had refused an apology rendered by Hussain’s lawyer in the contempt case.
