News
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
I’m sorry, Babar to SC* Former minister says whatever he stated regarding judiciary was unintentional
* Court decides to consider Babar Awan’s apology in his presence on April 18
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Babar Awan on Tuesday tendered unconditional apology before the Supreme Court (SC) in a contempt of court case against him for addressing a press conference regarding the court’s order on the memogate case.
The court has decided to consider Awan’s apology in his presence before the bench on April 18. The court, however, accepted the PPP leader’s another plea seeking exemption from personal appearance during Tuesday’s hearing. Ali Zafar, the counsel for Awan, submitted a four-page apology before the two-member SC bench consisting of Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Ather Saeed.
Awan submitted in his written apology, “The applicant apart from being a politician, senator and worker of PPP is senior advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and it is the applicant’s utmost duty, obligation and desire to uphold the dignity of the courts of Pakistan. The applicant has always been discharging his duty to the best of his ability and reiterates that the applicant has not only the highest regard and respect for the apex court of the country but also for all the judges of the superior judiciary. In this regard, the applicant has been expressing such feelings both inside and outside the courtroom”.
He further said that he “believes that the applicant must forthwith apologise to the court. This will be the best way to uphold the dignity of the court”.
Awan’s petition said, “Section 4 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003 says that alleged contemnor can at any stage render an apology”.
The PPP leader said that whatever he had stated in the press conference regarding the judiciary was unintentional, based on inadvertence. “The applicant is offering unconditionally apology for his utterances that have been found prima facie to be disrespectfully by this bench,” he said in his written application.
Awan said he particularly apologised to Justice Asif Saeed Khosa.
The applicant requested the court that his apology might be accepted and contempt proceedings against him might accordingly be discharged.
Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan said although Awan had submitted unconditional apology, he did not personally appear before the bench.
Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq told the court that Awan had already submitted an application, seeking his personal exemption from Tuesday’s hearing because he had gone to India and would return on April 17.
“His attitude was seen to all of us in the past hearings of the contempt case, therefore he should remain present before the bench,” Justice Athar Saeed said. The court accepted Awan’s plea and exempted him from the personal appearance. It also adjourned the hearing until April18.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk