Islamabad: The Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court has given time to the Federal Ombudsman’s lawyer to respond in the contempt of court case of Federal Ombudsman Yasmin Abbasi.
The Constitutional Bench headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan said that former Federal Ombudsman Yasmin Abbasi did not appear, while Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that she appeared in her personal capacity in the previous hearings.
Justice Jamal Mandokhel remarked that Yasmin Abbasi is no longer the Federal Ombudsman, why are we going to the former Federal Ombudsman.
Justice Musarrat Hilali said that the question is whether the Federal Ombudsman’s action can be challenged in the High Court. Justice Aminuddin Khan said that if a forum takes action without authority, then the High Court has jurisdiction.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said in his remarks that the matter has not become ineffective yet, arrest warrants for the Lahore High Court judge had been issued. Yasmin Abbasi should be given notice and informed about the action, despite the High Court order, the Federal Ombudsman continued to prosecute the case, while the Ombudsman’s action after the order was contempt of court.
Justice Jamal Mandokhel said that the contempt of court notice was issued to the Chairman Person Federal Ombudsman, Yasmin Abbasi is no longer the Federal Ombudsman. Notice should be given to the current Federal Ombudsman and he will come and tell him.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar raised the question of what will happen if the arrest warrant of the High Court judge is issued. Justice Jamal Mandokhel said that the Chairman Ombudsman will come and tell him whether he wants to prosecute the case or withdraw it. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that both the Lahore High Court judge and the Federal Ombudsman issued contempt of court notices to each other.
The constitutional bench ordered the Federal Ombudsman’s lawyer to submit a reply after taking instructions on the matter.
It should be noted that the Federal Ombudsman was stopped from taking harassment action against the woman by former Lahore High Court judge Mansoor Ali Shah. The Federal Ombudsman had issued contempt of court and arrest warrants against Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on the injunction.
