Islamabad: (Staff Reporter) Former Attorney General of Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan has written a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial seeking action against Maryam Nawaz for “scandalizing of courts and personalized criticism of judges”.
According to the source, the senior advocate, in his letter, referred to a speech made by the PMLN leader on Feb 23 in Sargodha where she came hard on the former serving judges of the Supreme Court for allegedly conspiring against his father Nawaz Sharif.
As per details the letters starts as, “It is very unusual for me to write such letters but as a very senior counsel/advocate, considering myself a part of the judicial system and administration of justice, I feel it my duty to place before you the fact that occurred on 23rd of February, 2023 at Sargodha.
Furthermore our judiciary is our pride and honor, which we are bound to protect, wherefore I am compelled to pen this letter”. Saying he had no grudge nor any personal enmity against Maryam Nawaz, the former AGP said the PMLN leader made Feb 23 speech “with a view to rouse their sentiments against the judges and the Supreme Court purposely, with obvious motivated intent, with a view criticize and bring the Supreme Court as also individual judges to disrepute, with improper motives and imputing them without authority, proof or document, amounts to scandalizing the court as also the judges through personal criticism”.
Moreover he said the criticism of judges and courts came at the stage when the suo moto case regarding the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is being heard by the nine-member bench now split into five-member bench. He said the two judges, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mazahar Akbar Naqvi, who were a part the bench were criticized by Maryam. He said the “purposive act of Maryam, shows a clear intent, which amounts to or has the effect of obstructing the administration of justice. Such actions on part of any public figure, is in fact an attack on the judiciary and its independence”. He also talked about leaked audiotapes of judges, saying these were spread without authenticity, adding that making allegations without credible proof warranted an action.
Meanwhile he also cited Article 204(2) which categorically states, “A court shall have power to punish any person who abuses, interferes or obstruct the process of court or who scandalizes the court or brings a judge of a court into hatred ridicule or contempt”. “Sir, it is now on the court to proceed on the basis of these facts being laid before this Honorable Court, for securing the majesty, integrity, safeguard, independence and confidence of the Judiciary in accordance with the Constitution and the law,” the letter concluded.
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