Kamal, Vawda suo motu: Supreme Court refuses to accept MQM-P leader's apology

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Wednesday rejected Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Deputy Convener Mustafa Kamal's plea seeking an instant acceptance of his apology in a contempt suo motu case.

The development came as a three-member CJP Isa-led bench comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan heard the contempt of court case against Kamal and independent Senator Faisal Vawda.

Both politicians had done hard-hitting press conferences against the judiciary in Islamabad in May, with Vawda saying that no allegations could be levelled without evidence and Kamal sought to establish ethical standards for the judges as justice could "only be bought".

Their statements had come after six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges wrote a letter to Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) members, pointing out the intelligence agency’s meddling in judicial affairs. The politicos also pointed out the dual citizenship of an IHC judge.

Shortly after their tirade, the SC on Thurs­day swung into action against the leaders and took suo motu notice. Following a hearing on May 17, the court issued show-cause notices to the lawmakers.

In their responses, Kamal sought an unconditional apology and said he held "all the judges, in particular, the judges of the superior courts of Pakistan in the highest respect and esteem".

Meanwhile, Senator Vawda refused to issue an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court and sought an end to the matter, saying that several others had issued remarks similar to his.