Contempt of court: SC accepts Altaf’s unconditional apology

The Supreme Court of Pakistan. — AFP Photo

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has accepted an unconditional apology tendered by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Monday for his derogatory remarks aimed at the apex court.

The apex court had issued a contempt of court notice on Dec 14, during a hearing of the Karachi law and order case, to Hussain and his party’s deputy convener Dr Farooq Sattar over the former’s remarks towards the Supreme Court judges.

Barrister Dr Farogh A. Nasim, who was representing Hussain at the court on Monday, said that the MQM chief also wished to withdraw all words used against the judges.

Accepting the apology, the three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, also disposed of the contempt of court notice against the MQM chief.

A delegation comprising provincial and national legislators from the MQM was present at the court for the hearing.

Speaking to media representatives prior to the start of the hearing, Sattar said the delegation had appeared to represent their party chief in the case and that it was not possible for Hussain to appear in Supreme Court for the hearing. He added that a petition requesting exemption of his personal appearance in court had also been filed.

The MNA further had said that the MQM had always held the court as supreme and that he hoped the issue would be amicably resolved.