Deportation contempt of court: retired judges; AG defends move

Islamabad, Sep 11 (UNI) Several retired Supreme Court judges said former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's deportation yesterday amounted to contempt of court and action could be taken against those responsible.

Contempt of court proceedings could be initiated against those who ordered the deportation, they said, according to reports here.

However, Attorney General Justice (r) Malik Qayyum sought to justify the government's step, saying that whatever the government did with Nawaz Sharif was ''according to the law''.

Contending the government's ''illegal step'' had tarnished the apex court's sanctity, Justice (r) Tariq Mahmood said it appeared that there was no law and order in Pakistan as SC verdicts were being flouted, adding that the government had ''disappointed the nation.'' Also terming it contempt of court, Justice (r) Fakharunisa Khokhar said if there was any case against Nawaz Sharif, he should have been tried in the court.

''Pakistani laws were above every pact. The Saudi government has nothing to do with Pakistani's internal matters,'' she said.

Justice (r) Zahid Hussain Bukhari said the re-exile was a violation of the SC verdict and it was also against Articles 15 to 19 of the Constitution.

However, disagreeing with the contentions, Justice (r) Qayyum said the government obeyed the SC order by letting Nawaz Sharif land in the country without restrictions, adding that the government had not committed any contempt under Article 204 of the Constitution.

UNI