The Supreme Court on Monday withdrew the option from Talal Chaudry to present witnesses in a contempt case against him.
The directive came as the three-member bench, headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed, resumed contempt proceedings against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader.
As the hearing went underway, Justice Gulzar ordered Chaudhry to present the defence’s final arguments himself. “Present the final arguments yourself if your witnesses are unwilling to appear in court,” the judge remarked.
Kamran Murtaza, counsel for Chaudhry, pleaded for adjournment of the hearing till general elections – scheduled for July 25. However, the bench rejected the petition.
The hearing was then adjourned till July 11, when the defence will present its final arguments.
The former minister and the PML-N leader is accused of making derogatory and contemptuous speeches/statements against the court, according to a notification issued on February 2.
Published in Daily Times, July 10th 2018.
