LAHORE: President of Lahore High Court Bar Association’s Multan chapter Sher Zaman Qureshi appeared on Monday before a full bench headed by Chief Justice Muhammad Yawar Ali for the first time since a bench headed by former chief justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah issued him a notice under contempt court charge last year.

The former chief justice had initiated contempt proceedings against Qureshi and another lawyer for misbehaving a justice at the Multan seat, obstructing judicial work and ransacking the court premises before ripping off the name plate of the judge during an ugly incident on July 24, 2017.

Mr Qureshi never appeared before the court rather his supporters held protests on each hearing of the case. On two of the hearings, the lawyers also turned violent, clashing with security personnel and breaking judges’ gate of the high court.

Accused defied the court when Justice Mansoor headed the bench

The bench headed by the former chief justice had also issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of Qureshi, however, withdrew the same after some senior bar leaders promised to make him produce before the court. However, Mr Qureshi refused to appear before the high court led by Shah but appeared before Supreme Court when Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar took notice of the contempt proceedings on his personal appeal. He also escaped arrest when a police team raided district courts in Multan.

On Sept 6, 2017 CJP Nisar heard the appeal of Qureshi and summoned a report from the LHC registrar on the matter and also expected that the larger bench of the high court would not hold its further proceedings and wait for the decision. After that the high court kept adjourning the hearings to wait a decision from the apex court.

During his Monday’s appearance before the newly constituted bench, Mr Qureshi told Chief Justice Ali that he had a great respect for the courts and never thought of disrespecting them.

He also submitted his written reply before the bench. The bench reserved the verdict on the contempt proceedings.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2018