Former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal on Friday submitted an unconditional apology in the Lahore High Court (LHC) in a contempt of court hearing against him.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi heard the petition filed by Munir Ahmad against Ahsan Iqbal, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and 16 other leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over delivering ‘anti-judiciary’ speeches.
In Friday’s hearing, Ahsan Iqbal submitted a detailed reply to the court. “Your written reply does not bear those apology words which should have been present as per legal requirements,” remarked Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi. “On Thursday a person was disqualified. He was saying outside the court that he had never tendered an apology,” the judge added, in a likely reference to PML-N leader Daniyal Aziz.
Ahsan Iqbal replied that he has complete regard for the courts and that he always bowed down before the law. “I have narrowly escaped death. Designations hold no importance for me,” he asserted.
The court while adjourning the hearing till Monday asked Ahsan Iqbal to resubmit reply in the case.
Speaking to media outside the court, the former minister said that one-sided actions were being taken against the PML-N. “The support of public for PML-N is increasing day by day due to the revenge actions against us. We do not need to be foes with Imran Khan. The nation will reject them on July 25,” he maintained. The PML-N leader said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was a group of opportunists, adding that PTI chief Imran Khan was not doing justice to his own party members. “At present, the PTI is an amalgamation of PML-Q and PPP’s former members.”
Published in Daily Times, June 30th 2018.
