Altaf walks free from SC

ISLAMABAD: Accepting the unconditional apology of MQM chief Altaf Hussain for delivering a speech on December 2, 2012 against the superior courts judges, the Supreme Court has withdrawn the show-cause notice against him.

During the hearing, a nine-member legal team, headed by Faroogh Nasim, submitted a written apology on behalf of Altaf, which astonished the people who had come to witness the court’s proceeding. Presenting the original apology before the court, Naseem stated that it was being presented after completing all the legal procedures, and then read it out. The apology stated that Altaf had every intention to hold the institution of the judiciary in high esteem and tenders unconditional apology before the Supreme Court, as all his life he had been struggling for upholding the majesty of the judiciary.

Through his apology, the MQM chief also withdrew all the adverse remarks he made on December 2 while addressing his party’s workers, and assured the court that they would not be repeated again in future and that he holds every judge of the Supreme Court in high esteem and believes in and upholds the dignity of the court.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, accepting the MQM chief’s unconditional apology, noted that he had not contested the contempt proceedings and threw himself at the court’s mercy, seeking unconditional apology. On his apology, the chief justice remarked that it is a good gesture and the court appreciates it. He also added that Altaf had respected the court and they also respected him.

During the proceedings, a large number of pro-judiciary lawyers were also present in the court. Meanwhile, taking notice of the derogatory letter of another MQM leader, Rauf Siddiqui, to the CJP, the court expressed annoyance him and asked how could he address a letter to the chief justice over the issue.

The court also called MQM leader Farooq Sattar to rostrum for speaking against the judiciary in his press conference. “Sir, unconditionally too on their behalf as well,” Farukh Naseem requested the bench, adding that we all have thrown ourselves to the mercy of this court. The court accepted their apology as well. After the court’s proceedings, Farooq Sattar told the newsmen that by offering an apology the MQM chief had shown a “great deal of statesmanship and greatness.” – DailyTimes