RAWALPINDI: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday dismissed PTI Secretary General Asad Umar’s contempt notice after he tendered an unconditional apology to the court for his ‘derogatory’ speech against the judiciary.
The PTI leader told the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench at the beginning of the hearing that my intention was not to target the courts or the judges.
However, Justice Jawad Hasan told the PTI leader that he had the videos of Umar’s statement and did not want to play them in court.
Justice Hasan told Asad Umar that we are fully aware of your words. He further said that the courts allowed the party to go on a long march but they targeted the courts.
Umar replied, “If I have exceeded any limit in my statements, I am sorry.”
After the pardon, the bench disposed of the contempt of court case against the PTI leader.
Notice of Contempt
On Monday, the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court asked the PTI leader to appear before the court on November 26, the day the party ended its long march, in response to his speech against the courts and the judiciary.
The orders were issued on a petition filed by the additional registrar of the Rawalpindi registry against the PTI leader’s speech.
During the hearing, Justice Hasan had remarked that Umar had ‘targeted’ the courts and judges in his November 26 speech.
The court noted that ‘Asad Umar defamed the courts and used insulting words against the judiciary in his speech during the November 26 rally’.
It was also said that the court will examine Umar’s speech.
Justice Hasan remarked that under Article 14 of the Constitution no institution or personality can be made controversial, the court has the power to punish under Article 204 (b) of the Constitution.
What did Umar say?
Addressing PTI’s long march in Rawalpindi on November 26, Umar said that the nation can see that the doors of justice are closed even in the Supreme Court.
“The judges had trouble when they had to change their route [due to the road closure],” he said.
Talking about the assassination attack on Khan, the PTI leader said that the chairman of the largest party was shot but no FIR was registered.
He said that the nation does not see justice in this country.
