Faisal Vawda prostrates in ‘gratitude’ after SC accepts apology

ISLAMABAD: Senator Faisal Vawda was seen performing a sajda (prostration) to express gratitude after the Supreme Court on Friday accepted his apology in a contempt of court case.

The apex court pardoned Vawda and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmaker Mustafa Kamal and withdrew the contempt of court notice issued to them.

 According to the court’s order, read by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, both the parliamentarians — Senator Vawda and MNA Kamal — have realised that the words they used were inappropriate.

“They have now withdrawn their statement and tendered an unconditional apology to the court,” read the order.

Vawda, on Wednesday, tendered an unconditional apology to the apex court in the contempt case, saying that he has left himself at the mercy of the apex court. Kamal had, earlier this month, also sought an unconditional apology for his remarks against the judiciary.

The court further wrote about withdrawing the show-cause notice issued to both politicians in view of their reflection on the matter and tendering of apology.

The top court’s decision comes more than a month after it had issued contempt of court notices to both politicians after they had done hard-hitting press conferences against the judiciary in May, with Vawda saying that no allegations could be levelled without evidence and Kamal sought to establish ethical standards for the judges as justice could “only be bought”.

Their statements had come after six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges wrote a letter to Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) members, pointing out the intelligence agency’s meddling in judicial affairs. The politicos also pointed out the dual citizenship of an IHC judge.

Shortly after their tirade, the SC sprung into action against the leaders and took suo motu notice.