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Tuesday, March 19, 2013SC to indict Malik over contempt on 25th
* SC rejects ex-interior minister’s unconditional apology for ‘interfering’ in PSM probe
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: Rejecting former interior minister Rehman Malik’s unconditional apology for interfering in the Pakistan Steel Mills investigation in 2009, the Supreme Court has decided to indict him on March 25.
Meanwhile, Malik has expressed his disappointment over the court’s refusal to accept his unconditional apology, arguing that some people abused the judiciary but still their apologies were being accepted. A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has also appointed Attorney General of Pakistan Irfan Qadir as the prosecutor in the contempt of court case against Rehman Malik.
The court, on May 16 last year, in its judgement in the Pakistan Steel Mills case had noted that interior minister Rehman Malik had interfered in the case by transferring former FIA DG Tariq Khosa in December 2009. It must be noted that several PPP leaders have faced contempt proceedings in the last three years. Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Senator Babar Awan, Taj Haider and Sharjeel Memon had been served contempt notices by the court. The Supreme Court has already rejected the unconditional apology submitted by Babar Awan last year.
During the hearing, the bench observed that Rehman Malik had confessed in his statement that he had transferred the investigating officer against the court’s order. On the other hand, Malik has contended that he respected the judiciary and appeared several times before the bench in different cases. He stated that whatever he did was done in good intentions. Submitting his unconditional apology Malik had said he never intended to interfere in the judicial proceedings but wanted to enlarge the scope of the inquiry already being conducted by the FIA.
In the application, the former interior minister said he had always held the judiciary, including the apex court, in high esteem and never intended to undermine its dignity and respect and “neither has any intentions to do so in future”. He tendered the unconditional apology for the “intended inconvenience” which may have been caused, and placed himself at the mercy of the court. “The apology so tendered may kindly be accepted and the show-cause notice against me be withdrawn,” the federal minister prayed.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk