IHC asks Dr. Firdous submit written apology in contempt of court proceeding by Saturday.

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday told Special Assistant to PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan to submit a written response to a criminal contempt notice as she appeared before the bench to offer an "unconditional apology" - her second one in less than a week - for her remarks regarding a case. The Court rejected the unconditional apology of Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan in criminal contempt case and directed her to appear before the court in person on next Monday. The court has also rejected Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan's plea regarding exemption from appearing before the court on next hearing of the case.

The court has directed Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan to submit detailed written reply till Saturday and court will conduct hearing on the matter on next Monday

The IHC on October 30 issued a notice to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Awan under Section 3 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003, according to which she maligned the court while giving a statement that the hearing of a petition on the release of former premier Nawaz Sharif on Saturday evening was 'a special dispensation'.

While the court on Nov 1 accepted Awan's unconditional apology, it issued her another show cause notice for prejudicing the pending proceedings related to the petition seeking suspension of Nawaz Sharif's sentence.

During the proceedings on Tuesday, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that it is a "huge crime to level allegations in a sub-judice matter". "This court will not favour anyone. Action will be taken in accordance with the law," the judge said.

He told Awan that in 2014, incumbent President Dr. Arif Alvi had filed a petition in the IHC on a holiday against the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) workers.

"The court issued its orders on a holiday. The court had barred [authorities] from arresting [PTI] workers," Justice Minallah said and recalled that "a lot was said about [IHC] in 2014 as well".

"Every judge takes an oath with God as witness," the high court chief justice said. "No matter how big a criminal, he has the right to a fair trial." The judge further said that a "court is respected due to its verdicts". Justice Athar Minallah remarked that this court will work according to law and no leniency will be shown towards anyone.

Awan offered the court an...

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