Threats to Justice Isa: Cleric Mirza indicted on contempt charges

Threats to Justice Isa: Cleric Mirza indicted on contempt charges

Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): The Supreme Court on Wednesday indicted Rawalpindi-based cleric Agha Iftikharuddin Mirza in contempt of court charges for using derogatory, contemptuous and scandalous language against the judiciary in a video that went viral last month.

A two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan heard a suo motu case regarding the video containing derogatory, contemptuous and scandalous language against the judiciary, specifically Justice Isa.

During the hearing, Mirza unconditionally apologised to the court, saying that he was ashamed of his remarks. "I ask forgiveness from you as a Muslim," he said. "I apologise for my statements in the video."

The court, however, rejected his apology and charged him with contempt of court under Section 5 of the Contempt of the Court Ordinance, 2003.

Last week, the cleric also requested the court to accept his apology and acquit him from the charges of contempt.

The accused had assured the court through an understanding that he would never repeat such an act in the future.