Islamabad(newsviews) The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday decided to frame contempt of court charges against Capital Development Authority (CDA) Member (Estate) Mohammad Zaman Wattoo over his alleged misrepresentation of facts and conduct during court proceedings, rejecting his request for an unconditional apology.

Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar, who heard the contempt proceedings, directed Wattoo to appear in person on November 12, when formal charges will be framed against him. The court also directed the prosecutor, Mr Adnan, to prepare for the proceedings. During the hearing, the court noticed that despite having a number of lawyers at its disposal, the civic agency failed to render proper assistance to the court.

The chief justice expressed strong displeasure over the conduct of the CDA official, observing that the dignity and authority of courts could not be taken lightly.

“You do not take the honour and dignity of the courts seriously. Do not assume that we are acting as someone’s B-team or that we will simply rubber-stamp whatever the government dictates,” the chief justice remarked.

Chief justice directs prosecutor to prepare for proceedings against member estate

He observed that when a matter was fixed before the chief justice’s court, a senior court, the concerned official was expected to remain present until the case was taken up.

The chief justice said he had no personal grudge or desire for vengeance against anyone but would hold the respondent accountable for his conduct on the day the relevant order was passed. He pointed out that Wattoo had cited illness as a reason for his absence from the proceedings but subsequently appeared before another court.

Addressing Wattoo’s counsel Kashif Ali Malik, who sought acceptance of an unconditional apology, the chief justice questioned how an experienced lawyer could be unaware of the seniority of courts.

“You have served for sixty years; are you truly unaware of which court holds seniority? Your conduct effectively bulldozes judicial orders,” he remarked.

The chief justice further observed that Wattoo should have appeared before his court and sought additional time instead of leaving to attend proceedings elsewhere despite being summoned personally.

“Are you trying to convince me that our order was incorrect?” he asked. The counsel reiterated that his client was offering an unconditional apology and that they were not attempting to justify the conduct in question. However, the chief justice observed that the apology could be considered at a later stage.

Wattoo also personally apologised to the court, saying that he held the judiciary in high regard and could never contemplate committing contempt of court.

“There is no room for apologies now; this is a clear-cut case of contempt of court,” the chief justice responded.

During the proceedings, the prosecutor was called to the rostrum. Responding to the court’s query, he said no apology had been offered in the written response submitted by the respondent. He explained that contempt proceedings were initiated in such cases, followed by the formal framing of charges.

CDA counsel Nazir Jawad requested additional time, assuring the court that they would come fully prepared at the next hearing. The chief justice, however, made it clear that the court would proceed with the indictment on the next date. The contempt proceedings relate to a dispute over the allotment of plots to affected people, in which the court had directed the CDA official to appear personally.

According to Wattoo’s earlier written response to the show-cause notice, he had disputed the petitioner counsel’s account of his absence from the September 16 proceedings. He claimed that he had never authorised Deputy Director (Land) Riaz Ahmad Khan to inform the court that he was unwell.

Instead, Wattoo maintained that he was appearing before Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas in another petition in which the CDA chairman had also been directed to appear personally. He said the proceedings before Justice Minhas continued until after the chief justice’s court had concluded its hearing, making it impossible for him to appear before the latter.

The court subsequently adjourned the contempt proceedings until November 12 and directed Wattoo to ensure his personal appearance.