Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued notice to another member of Imran Khan’s cabinet, Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, for allegedly casting aspersions on the judiciary with reference to bail of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and linking it to some secret deal with the government.
In a recent TV talk show, Ghulam Sarwar Khan had commented on the IHC’s October 29 decision of granting bail to Sharif on medical grounds saying a fake medical report was submitted before the court and Nawaz’ bail was the result of a secret deal with the government.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information & Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan is already facing contempt case for giving similar comments and despite her unconditional apology the court is carrying forward the case.
On Monday, while hearing a petition submitted against Ghulam Sarwar Khan for his statement in a TV show, Chief Justice Athar Minalllah issued notice to the minister and directed him to submit his reply by November 14.
The petitioner Khalid Mahmood Khan has submitted that the minister had committed contempt of court by linking Nawaz Sharif’s release on bail to a deal with the government.
Advocate Jahangir Jadoon, the counsel for the petitioner, submitted that Ghulam Sarwar Khan had also claimed that a fake medical report could be issued to get Sharif’s release.
On this the IHC CJ directed the registrar office to club Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan’s case with Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan.
Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan who was also present there in the courtroom said her petition had nothing to do with the matter of Ghulam Sarwar Khan.
At this, the CJ remarked that she had also held a press conference on behalf of the government while Ghulam Sarwar Khan had given a statement.
This is the reason that the both petitions would be heard together, the CJ observed.
Firdous Ashiq Awan said Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan did not make any statement about the medical board on which the counsel for the petitioner said he could read the transcript of Minister’s statement.
Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the reality was not as it was being presented before the court.
Chief Justice of the IHC on this observed, “The medical board was formed by the government — how could the minister say that?”
Justice Minallah said politics was one thing, but such statements were making people lose trust in the system. SAPM assured the court she would bring the matter to Prime Minister’s notice in cabinet meeting on Tuesday (today). Later while clubbing both the petitions, Justice Minallah adjourned hearing until Thursday.
