ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Thursday charged Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Tallal Chaudry in contempt of court case.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, heard the case following the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s (CJP) suo motu notice on February 2 of Chaudry’s contemptuous remarks against the judiciary. The minister is being charged on the grounds of a public speech in which he had allegedly urged his leader Nawaz Sharif to oust the judges in order to get justice.
Tallal Chaudry’s counsel Kamran Murtaza had previously filed a plea petition which the court rejected. During the case proceedings on Thursday, the defense’s counsel stated that the court cannot charge his client as a new petition had been submitted, and therefore until a verdict is given, Chaudry cannot be charged over contempt of court.
Justice Ejaz Afzal stated that the hearing being conducted was to charge the State Minister of contempt and he shall be indicted in this hearing. Afzal directed Chaudry to sign the charge sheet as he pled not guilty in light of the charges framed by the SC.
The court has adjourned the case proceedings till March 27.