ISLAMABAD: Cleric Mirza Iftikhar­uddin, who is facing contempt charges over derogatory and scandalous speech against the judiciary, on Thursday pleaded not guilty before the Supreme Court and said he would defend himself.

At the last hearing on July 15, a three-judge SC bench had framed charges against the Rawalpindi-based cleric for committing contempt of the court.

His counsel Sarkar Abbas, however, had sought time to consult the alleged contemnor to determine whether he pleads guilty or not.

But on Thursday, the accused told the court that he would defend himself and pleaded not guilty in the contempt matter, adding that he was facing two cases on the basis of one video clip.

If the accused still declines to accept the guilt despite filing unconditional apology before the court, this is his choice, observed Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, also a member of the bench, adding that cybercrime and terrorism charges were independent of the contempt case.

Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, however, said that every department involved in the matter would function in accordance with the law and would follow its own rules.

Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency in its fresh report highlighted that analysis of the call data record of his cellular phone showed communication of Mirza Iftikhar on the National Technology Council, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited and mobile phone numbers, besides international calls to Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Malaysia, China, Zambia and England.

The contact list of his phone showed 486 persons who include civilians and retired army officers, the report said, adding that 26 most frequent contact persons had been examined and found to be the persons with whom the accused had routine contacts. So far none of these persons could be found to have links with the matter at hand.

The report said that after conducting a raid on the cleric’s residential premises on June 30, the bank record and analysis of the receipt books were seized, which showed donations in large number within and outside Pakistan as his financial source.

However, the investigation for identifying the most frequent and big amount donors from the receipt books and bank statements was under way, the report said, adding that the Federal Board of Revenue chairman had been requested to provide the record of his tax returns and wealth statements.

The report explained that Chairman of the Assets Recovery Unit (ARU) Shahzad Akbar also joined the investigation and recorded his statement in which he said that he neither had any acquaintance with the accused nor did he have any relation with this matter.

Mirza Iftikhar had uploaded 698 videos on social media and so far 175 videos have been examined and further scrutiny is continuing. Forensic analysis will be made as and when any video, which amounts to violation of any law, is identified, the report said.

The cleric’s bank record suggested 19 accounts, the report said, adding that alleged complainant Abdul Waheed Dogar on the complaint of whom a presidential reference was moved to the Supreme Judicial Council against Justice Qazi Faez Isa was also summoned and his statement recorded.

Mr Dogar stated that he was a professional journalist and mostly dealt with reporting of the matters pertaining to the ministries of finance and interior, law enforcement agencies, the Oil and Gas Development Company, etc.

He admitted that he had met Shahzad Akbar only once after submitting application to the ARU and denied categorically that he had any acquaintance with Mirza Iftikhar.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2020