SC takes up petitions against contempt law again today

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court will resume hearing in various identical petitions challenging Contempt of Court Act again today (Wednesday).

On Tuesday, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry observed that the new Contempt of Court Act 2012 seemed to be against the delivery of justice while the earlier law was intended to ensure the implementation of court orders.

During proceedings, the CJ remarked that the contempt of court law was an important tool in the hands of judiciary to make sure its orders were implemented. Expressing his dismay, the Chief Justice termed the practice of changing laws in haste as an incorrect effort.

The CJ said Section 4 has been added in the Act so that the punishment could no longer remain effective, adding that it seemed as if this was a mistake on the part of the draftsman.

Petitioner Liaqat Qureshi Advocate and other petitioners, including Mehmoodul Hassan, President Karachi Bar Association, represented by Hamid Khan, as well as Ashraf Gujjar also delivered their arguments in the case.