Justice Faez Isa’s wife urges SC to initiate contempt proceedings against Fawad Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: The wife of Supreme Court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa has filed an application to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry.

In a tweet last week, Fawad Chaudhry said that he had been “listening to the speeches of an undertrial judge of the Supreme Court for a week. If I answer, then lectures will start that we are saddened and have been insulted.”

“Sir, if you too are fond of politics like your godfather Iftikhar, then resign and contest elections for the councillor. You will get to know about both your popularity and acceptance,” Fawad said.

In her petition, Sarina Isa said Fawad’s tweet was “highly offensive” and “confirmed that secret cameras have been installed in the courtroom.”

She contended that her husband was still a judge of the Supreme Court and not an “undertrial prisoner”, and that the federal minister had “committed contempt of this court and of a sitting judge of this court”.

She also referred to Fawad’s use of the word godfather, saying that it was a term used for the mafia and was highly offensive to the dignity and respect of this court constitutes “gross contempt”.

The petition added that Fawad Chaudhry has violated his “ministerial oath of office, the Constitution of Pakistan, mocked and ridiculed this honourable court’s former chief justice, a sitting judge of the Supreme Court and committed contempt of this honourable court.”

She said that Fawad had “encouraged a barrage of attacks against Justice Isa” and the government wanted Justice Isa “not to hold the government accountable”.

She requested the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Fawad Chaudhry, remove him from office and direct to shut down his Twitter account.

Meanwhile, #IStandWithFawadChaudhary was among the top trends on Twitter as government officials voiced support for the minister.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Shahbaz Gill said that Fawad Chaudhry was a “political personality” who always respects the courts. He said theta Fawad will give an answer if any political remarks are passed by the judge.