Lahore (Staff Report): Former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday submitted unconditional apology before a Lahore High Court bench in response to a contempt notice, saying that he has utter respect for the courts and always bowed down before the law.
Iqbal appeared before the court along with his counsel Azam Nazir Tarrar and requested the full bench headed by Justice Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi to discharge all proceedings against him.
During the hearing, Justice Naqvi told Iqbal that he could have adopted a legal approach to express his reservations regarding the remarks of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, but he chose to air his comments publically.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz leader expressed that the top judge should substantiate his claims regarding his involvement in the appointment of Chancellor of Lahore College for Woman University (LCWU) Dr Uzma Qureshi.
“The CJP has no right to mock and insult us. Enough is enough,” Iqbal stated.
He also requested the CJP to have a big heart and not get agitated by minuscule issues.
The CJP had dismissed LCWU vice-chancellor Dr Uzma Quraishi as she was appointed to the post without merit.
CJP Nisar, who heard various cases at the Supreme Court’s registry Lahore, summoned newly-appointed vice-chancellor (VC) of the Lahore College for Women University and the Punjab Higher Education Minister Syed Raza Ali Gillani.
Punjab Higher Education Minister Raza Ali Gillani informed the bench that Quraishi 's appointment was not undertaken in his tenure but added that the inquiry of the matter was forwarded to him for which a committee has been constituted.
Appearing before the court, the VC clarified that Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was his father’s student but he had no role in her appointment after the chief justice remarked that they are aware of Iqbal's role in the matter.
The chief justice wondered how seniors were sidelined in the appointment process, adding that, "the state of education has been destroyed". "This is the Punjab government," he remarked further.
Quraishi pleaded the bench not to dismiss her as it would affect her reputation but the court observed that she can plead her case afresh in front of a search committee.
