ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday sentenced former privatization minister Daniyal Aziz to be held in contempt “till rising of the court”.
The apex court ruled that Aziz’s contemptuous remarks maligned the supremacy of the court during his speeches spreading hatred under Section 2(b) of Article 204 of the Constitution.
The apex court ruled that the verdict was given out in leniency by not sentencing him a six-month imprisonment.
However, the symbolic disqualification rules that Aziz cannot contest in elections for five years or hold any public office while serving disqualification period.
Aziz will be unable to contest polls in the upcoming general election.
Earlier today Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on was to announce its verdict in contempt proceedings against Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Daniyal Aziz.
Aziz appeared before the court, headed by three-member bench.
Earlier, the SC had taken a suo moto notice over Aziz’s contemptuous remarks in February.
The security is on high alert at the SC as the proceedings are underway.
Earlier as the proceedings started, Justice Gulzar Mushir Alam was handed out the verdict to be read out, however the apex court judge decided to wait for Aziz before announcing the verdict.
The original bench comprising of Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel however, is not present to hear the contempt proceedings.
Previously the Supreme Court (SC) has issued a contempt of court notice to Federal Minister for Privatization Daniyal Aziz.
The notice was served to the minister over his anti-judiciary remarks during talk shows.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leaders started expressing their anger in public rallies and during talk shows following the Supreme Court’s (SC) Panama case verdict that disqualified then prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanullah have also been served notices by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on a contempt petition filed by Advocate Azahar Siddiqui.
The notices were served on the petition that sought a strict action against the said persons as they “commit contempt of court during their speeches in Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Jaranwala rally on January 27”.
The petition added that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority (PEMRA) allowed the speeches to run on the tv channels, hence action should be taken against it.
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