IHC issues contempt of court notice to Firdous Ashiq Awan

The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday issued a notice of contempt of court to Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, special assistant to the prime minister in information and dissemination, for criticizing the institution of the judiciary.

The justified cause notice, issued under Section 3 of the contempt of court ordinance of 2003, said Awan slandered the IHC by saying that hearing a petition on the release of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was "a special dispensation ".

The court ordered Awan to appear in person on November 1 (Friday) at 9 a.m. to explain why it should not be prosecuted under contempt law.

The notice draws attention to the fact that Awan, during a press conference, "criticized the judiciary" and declared that the bail order to Nawaz Sharif "will open a floodgate of similar requests from prisoners suffering from various diseases."

"That while defaming the honorable courts he continued saying that the defendant's case was heard during the night & # 39; as a special dispensation & # 39; […] that you, as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and Spokesman of the Federal Government, tried to scandalize the court in the eyes of the public, therefore, tried to lower the esteem of the judiciary, "adds the notice, which does not mention the date of The press conference in question.

"The content of his press conference on the courts was unjustified as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, more particularly the Federal Government Spokesman," the announcement continues, adding: "The act of his prima facie attracts a criminal action against bass the contempt of court ordinance, 2003 ".

On Saturday, October 26, the president of PML-N, Shehbaz Sharif, filed a petition at IHC, asking the court to hear the statement of bail before October 29 due to Nawaz's "extremely critical condition." After the hearing, which lasted until the night, the court granted Nawaz bail for medical reasons until October 29 at the Al-Azizia reference.

Awan, while holding a press after bail, had said the government would want to see such rapid trials for all prisoners under trial and in all cases. "We hope this new trend is applicable to all cases," he said.

The special assistant also commented that there was no precedent in the past that the executive was asked to take responsibility for the health of a prisoner, referring to the questions of the judges during Saturday's hearing. "We are not responsible for your old ailments, including blood pressure and heart problems."

The IHC on Tuesday resumed the declaration of bail and granted bail after Nawaz was arrested upon suspension of his sentence. The court allowed bail to the former prime minister for eight weeks and asked him to seek further extension of the Punjab government.