RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: A full bench of the Lahore High Court on Monday deferred till first week of September its decision against former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal in contempt of court proceedings after he tendered unconditional apology.

Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, presiding over the bench, observed that the court would monitor conduct of Ahsan till next hearing as he had been found changing his stance in and outside the court.

Ahsan Iqbal's Counsel Azam Nazir Tarar submitted the written apology before the bench and requested it to dispose of the contempt proceedings against his client. The bench however turned down his request and observed that Ahsan Iqbal first sought apology in the court and later launched tirade against judiciary. The bench told Ahsan, "Being a political worker you should exercise more tolerance than commoners".

The PPP endured more testing times than the PML-N but it never attacked the judiciary, the bench observed, and reminded Ahsan that his party was unique in targeting the judiciary.

The petitioner's counsel Azhar Siddique argued that the bench would have to see the apology of Ahsan Iqbal in view of his conduct outside the court. He said the former minister used to change his stance before court and media. Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had suspended Prof Dr Uzma Qureshi as vice chancellor of Lahore College for Women University observing that her appointment was maneuvered by the former interior minister. Later, Ahsan Iqbal speaking at a seminar in Islamabad had criticized the CJP's remarks.