AJK SC summons former premier; By Tariq Naqash in Dawn, Aug 8

MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 7: The Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir here on Tuesday ordered former prime minister and People’s Party leader Barrister Sultan Mahmood to file his comments within 10 days and personally appear before the court on August 27 to clarify his statement in a section of press casting aspersions on the dignity of judiciary.

The order was passed by the full bench of court headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Azam Khan, and comprising Justice Chaudhry Mohammad Ibrahim Zia, Justice Raja Saeed Akram and Justice Sardar Mohammad Sadiq Khan.

Apart from the former premier, Tariq Mehmood, an owner of a public call office in Mirpur who had faxed the statement of the former premier, containing “inappropriate and contemptuous” remarks, to different newspapers had also been asked to give his comments within 10 days and appear in person before the court.

The full bench observed that former prime minister’s statement tended to obstruct the administration of justice, interference in the process of the court and scandalising the court and the CJ.

“An attempt has been made to lower down the prestige, honour and dignity of the court,” the bench said, adding, it had therefore decided to summon the former prime minister and the PCO owner.

It may be pertinent to mention here that the former prime minister, who is also a sitting Legislative Assembly member, has been at odds with Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed’s government for quite sometime, accusing it of sheltering and promoting corrupt people.

In this regard, he had particularly been critical of the appointment of Mirza Javed Iqbal, a retired government servant, as director general of Mirpur Development Authority.

On July 12, a division bench of the AJK High Court had cancelled the appointment of Mr Iqbal on the grounds that “he had entered into plea-bargain with the AJK Ehtesab Bureau which had rendered him convicted for the offence of corruption and corrupt practice.”

However, that judgment was suspended by the apex court CJ while accepting Mr Iqbal’s application for interim relief.

Mr Mehmood’s alleged remarks were made in the same context. http://dawn.com/2012/08/08/contemptuous-statement-ajk-sc-summons-former-premier/