ISLAMABAD:
Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah has written to the Supreme Court Registrar to clarify his position regarding the initiation of contempt of court proceedings against Faisal Vawda and Mustafa Kamal. He emphasised that he did not request such proceedings over their press conferences against him.
“This is with reference to the subject suo moto contempt proceedings initiated on the basis of a note of the Registrar placed before the Chief Justice of Pakistan,” Justice Minallah wrote. “It has come to my notice that an impression is being given that the aforementioned proceedings were initiated on my complaint. It is unequivocally stated that neither any complaint was filed by me nor was I in any manner consulted in this regard.”
Justice Minallah highlighted his consistent stance on contempt proceedings, referring to his jurisprudence from his tenure at the High Court. “I have confronted the challenges of malicious campaigns, intrusions in my privacy, fake allegations and imputation of motives on account of my verdicts since 2017. As a judge I had realised that such vilification campaigns were associated with the nature of performing our constitutional duty in a polarised society having a fragile rule of law.”
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He stated that he has never responded to or been influenced by such campaigns, regardless of their harshness or falsity. “My views are manifest from my jurisprudence laid down while serving in the High Court,” he added.
Justice Minallah cited several instances from his judicial career to support his views, including a criminal case where he granted bail to a political worker criticising the then Chief Justice of Pakistan. He also referenced a petition against a journalist critical of judges, which he dismissed, underscoring the importance of freedom of expression and the role of a free press in ensuring economic stability and growth.
“In the light of my own jurisprudence I could not have sought the initiation of contempt proceedings relating to criticism of my person, no matter how harsh, malicious or false it may be. You are, therefore, directed to place this letter on record to dispel any unfounded impression that the proceedings were initiated on my complaint,” he concluded.
