ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday dismissed contempt petitions filed against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
The three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, heard the contempt petitions.
During the court proceedings, the bench disposed of the petitions due to the petitioner’s inability to comply with the court orders.
Both the petitions were filed by Riaz Hanif Rahi.
On Wednesday, the apex court had disposed of a contempt petition filed against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.
The petition was filed by senior lawyer Naseer Ahmed Kayani against Imran Khan, accusing him of committing contempt of court by using derogatory language against former CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry.
The bench had disposed of the petition after it was told that the petitioner’s counsel, Hashmat Habib, could not make contact with his client.
Earlier on March 26, the SC had dismissed a petition seeking contempt of court case against Nawaz Sharif.
A three-member bench of the SC, led by Justice Saqib Nisar, had heard a plea filed by a ‘habitual petitioner’ Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi asking contempt of court case against the former prime minister.
While hearing the contempt of court petition, the CJP had questioned the need to frame charges against Nawaz Sharif, asking whether it was a matter of out-of-turn promotions.
According to a media report, the CJP was quoted as saying, “Mian sahib is no one now, so what actions can be taken [against him]?”
Moreover, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, another member of the bench, had argued that the case had become ineffective under present circumstances. The apex court then dismissed the petition.
On March 14, the SC had dismissed a contempt plea against Nawaz Sharif a day after rejecting a similar petition, stating that citizens had the right to comment on judicial verdicts.
