Pakistan's leader in court for contempt
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif denied showing contempt for the judiciary yesterday when he became the first serving Prime Minister to appear on a contempt of court charge. Mr Sharif said in a statement that he had high esteem for the judiciary, with which he has been at loggerheads for months, but said: "I have neither committed contempt of court, nor do I intend to do that."
Mr Sharif sat in court with his entire cabinet when counsel read out the statement. The hearing was adjourned until today and Mr Sharif was unlikely to appear again, aides said. His remarks fell far short of the apology which some newspapers had said he would make to the court to take some of the tension out of the nation's political life.
The continuing confrontation with Mr Sharif's nine-month-old government has dominated political life and unnerved investors. The proceedings arise out of remarks Mr Sharif made when the supreme court suspended one of his first pieces of legislation which outlawed the practice of legislators changing sides, something that has bedevilled politics in the past.
Mr Sharif's statement said it was his duty to express his views on court rulings "in the light of varying opinions ... It is unfortunate if in the performance of my duty towards these obligations, any of my statements has been deemed by any learned judge to be in contempt."
The Pakistani Prime Minister, who returned to power with a sweeping majority in February, has been at loggerheads with the country's chief justice, Sayed Sajjad Ali Shah, for months over a variety of issues.
- Reuters, Islamabad
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments