The Supreme Court has reserved its decision in a case related to the manhandling of former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Tuesday
A five-member bench headed by acting chief justice Justice Asif Saeed Khosa heard the suo moto contempt case against the senior police and administration officials today. .
The top judge raised the question while hearing appeals filed by seven former members of the Islamabad capital administration and police personnel convicted for roughing up former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in March 2007. During the hearing, the officers offered an unconditional apology to the court.
Deliberating further on the matter, Justice Khosa quizzed whether an apology was enough to conclude contempt proceedings against a person who was caught on camera abusing the court. He asked how can the court determine if the apology was genuine remorse or just an act to wrap up contempt proceedings. “Should there be a yardstick to find out if the apology has been submitted with bonafide intent?”
He warned that the court shall keep track of future endeavours even after a verdict has been given.
Justice Asmat Saeed Sheikh observed that if a person tendered a genuine apology, it would still be the court’s discretion to discharge contempt proceedings or not.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the apex court reserved the verdict and directed the police officers to appear in person on the day of the announcement.
