ISLAMABAD: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Irfan Nawaz Memon of Islamabad did not show up for a hearing in the contempt of court case against him, thus on Wednesday the Islamabad High Court (IHC) denied his appeal for an unconditional pardon.
Memon was prohibited from traveling overseas and ordered to respond to a show-cause notice addressing the subject by Monday during the hearing presided over by IHC’s Justice Babar Sattar. Additionally, Justice Sattar denied his request to move the contempt of court proceedings to a different bench.
Even though DC Islamabad’s request for an exemption from attendance was denied, the court had nevertheless given him a show-cause notice for his non-appearance. Next week, according to Justice Sattar, he will render a decision on this case.
A day prior, the IHC had issued an order for Memon’s arrest and requested that his name be added to the no-fly list in order to avoid being involved in the contempt case involving Shehryar Afridi, the head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who was being held in accordance with the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance.
Authorities have used the legislation, which gives the government extensive detention powers, to apprehend and hold PTI officials after the May 9 riots.
Islamabad DC and Islamabad Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Malik Jamil Zafar were being sued by Justice Sattar for going outside their jurisdiction by giving directives in violation of Section 3 of the MPO.
SSP Operations Zafar and Superintendent of Police (SP) Farooq Buttar were called by the court to appear during the hearing. Simultaneously, the Islamabad DC attorney filed a motion to have Memon removed from the court.
Memon, who was present for the hearing today, stated that he puts himself at the mercy of the court and that he had not missed any of the case’s eighteen hearings.
Judge Sattar said, “Do you think this is a joke, you are being held in contempt of court [case],” clearly infuriated with the DC for his prior absence. For 970 days, you issued 69 MPO orders.
Raja Rizwan Abbasi, Memon’s attorney, became irate throughout the hearing and asked the court to reschedule the case.
The IHC judge said, “This case was supposed to be completed yesterday, it could not be done because of you,” and asked DC Islamabad if he was aware of the court’s directive.
Memon retorted, “I can’t even consider breaking the court order.”
When Justice Sattar recommended the contempt matter to be transferred to another bench, he questioned DC Islamabad if benches will now be established according to his preference.
Memon’s attorney stated that DC Islamabad’s absence from this court was not a barrier to justice and that Memon had no desire to challenge the legitimacy of the court.
“The court is requested to dismiss the contempt of court case,” he said.
Memon’s attorney read the indictment against DC Islamabad during his presentation.
“Civil, criminal, and judicial contempt of court are the three categories. He claimed that the matter did not fall under section 6 of contempt of court, stating that the reason for the court action was obstruction of justice.
