IHC issues contempt of court notice to PM's aide.

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday issued a contempt of court notice to Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, for allegedly maligning the judiciary for hearing the hurriedly filed petition by the PML-N seeking release of the party supremo Nawaz Sharif on health grounds.

The show-cause notice, issued under Section 3 of Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003, said that Dr Awan maligned the IHC while saying that the hearing of the petition for the release of Nawaz Sharif was 'a special dispensation'.

The court directed Dr Awan to appear in person on Friday (Nov 1) at 9am to explain as to why she should not be proceeded against under the contempt of court law.

The IHC also asked the presidents of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Islamabad High Court Bar Association and the advocate general for Islamabad to assist the court in the matter. They have also been asked to attend the court proceedings on Nov 1.

Firdous faces allegation of maligning court

The notice says that Dr Awan, while holding a press conference, 'criticised the judiciary' and stated that the order granting bail to Nawaz Sharif would 'open a floodgate of similar requests by prisoners suffering from various diseases'.

'That you while maligning honourable courts went on to say that the case of the accused was heard during the evening 'as a special dispensation' [...] that you as a Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and Spokesperson for the Federal Government made an attempt to scandalise the court in the eyes of the public and, thereby, tried to lower the esteem of the judiciary,' adds the notice, which does not mention the date of the press conference in question.

'The contents of your press conference about courts were unwarranted being a Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, more particularly the Spokesperson for the Federal Government,' the notice continues, adding: 'The act of yours prima facie attracts a penal action against you...