LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday adjourned contempt of court proceedings against former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal till September 5. A three-member LHC bench led by Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi was hearing a petition filed against ex-interior minister Iqbal, former premier Nawaz Sharif and 16 other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders for allegedly making anti-judiciary speeches. The counsel for Iqbal told the court that his client had submitted an unconditional apology in connection with contempt of court proceedings against him. However, the bench asked whether the former interior minister had accepted his mistake. “On the one hand you say that you won’t make such statements and on the other you say that your party is being targeted,” the bench remarked. “If the verdict is in your favour then the judiciary is right, otherwise it is wrong. You tell us which other party, besides yours, has commented on the judiciary?” observed Justice Atir Mahmood. The court then remarked that former prmier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had appeared during the previous hearing, and the verdict was announced on merit. Iqbal’s lawyer, however, pleaded that the contempt of court proceedings against his client be ended, since his client had apologised unconditionally. The court then postponed the proceedings until after elections, till September 5. According to the petition, Ahsan Iqbal along with other PML-N leader had using derogatory language against the Supreme Court judges on April 25 and 23, respectively, and the same was aired by TV channels. The petitioner has contended that the respondents’ action was barred under Article 68 of the Constitution but the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) did not take any action despite being empowered by the PEMRA Ordinance. The petitioner further stated that the authority had failed to implement provisions of PEMRA Ordinance and the court orders of April 16, therefore, contempt proceedings should be initiated against the respondents. Published in Daily Times, July 3rd 2018.