After sentencing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) former senator Nehal Hashmi to one month in prison and disqualification from the parliament for five years in the contempt of court case, the Supreme Court on Thursday summoned Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry over the charges of contempt of the higher judiciary.
The apex court has ordered the state minister to appear before it on February 6 as it issued him a notice for issuing disrespectful remarks against the judiciary.
Addressing a public gathering in Jaranwala last week, the PML-N stalwart had said: “There was a time when the Kaabah was filled with idols and now the judiciary, the country’s highest institution, is also full of PCO [Provisional Constitution Order] idols.”
Earlier in the day, the SC bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and comprising Justices Dost Mohammad and Maqbool Baqar gave the verdict in a 2-1 order with Justice Dost abstaining. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50, 000 on the ex-senator.
Following the verdict, Tallal Chaudhry regretted the decision and questioned if others who committee contempt would also be taken to task, or is the PML-N the only target.
“You cannot force respect through fear,” he remarked.
