ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Friday issued a contempt notice to Najam Sethi for not complying with the court orders to restrain from functioning as acting chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

A single-member bench comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui issued the notice while hearing a contempt plea moved by Ahmad Nawaz Khan seeking the contempt proceedings against Najam Sethi.

Khan stated in his petition that Sethi, after having knowledge of the restraining order willfully, deliberately and intentionally violated it and was still functioning as chairman PCB. The petitioner also alleged that Sethi had used contemptuous language against the court in a TV show on a private channel.

During the course of proceedings on Friday, Barrister Abdul Razzaq Rajab acting as counsel for Khan told the bench that despite having the knowledge of restraining order from working as acting chairman PCB, Najam Sethi did not vacate the office.

He maintained that Sethi was still functioning as chairman which was against the court’s order.

Rajab stated that Sethi had written on his Twitter account that he was still the chairman of the PCB and had used contemptuous language on the social media website saying that there were some ‘elements with vested interests’ who were not allowing him to work as chairman.

“Vested interests are bogging PCB down and stopping me from carrying out reforms against corrupt practices,” Sethi had posted on Oct 29 from his Twitter account.

To this, Justice Siddiqui remarked that the court does not care about criticism in the media and it would continue its working according to the law and constitution.

“I am answerable to Allah and not anyone else,” the judge remarked and issued the contempt notice to Sethi.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui on Oct 29 had suspended the Interim Management Committee (IMC) constituted to govern the PCB affairs of which Sethi was given charge, and also restrained him and other members of the IMC from “posing themselves as members and from performing any function of the PCB.”

The same day an IHC division bench comprising Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan and Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi also took up the appeals related to the earlier order of the IHC of July 2013, in which the court had ordered the PCB to hold the elections for the position of its chairman in 90 days.

After the court proceedings, PCB counsel Tafazzal Haider Rizvi told the media persons that the division bench had restored the IMC and Sethi.

Sethi tweeted the same day that the Islamabad High Court two-member bench had granted stay against single-bench orders. “I remain Chairman PCB. Sorry to disappoint trolls!” he tweeted.

The order of the two members bench was not signed on Oct 29 and the bench comprising Justice Khan and Justice Qureshi issued the written order on October 31 (Thursday) according to which the bench did not pass any such directions regarding reinstatement of IMC or Sethi.

In its order, the division bench observed that “the points raised in the appeals need consideration” and after admitting the appeals for regular hearings issued notices to the PCB, Pakistan Sports Board and Ministry of Inter-provincial Coordination.

The contempt petition against Sethi was also filed by Ahmed Nawaz Khan the same day.