Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday drew out show cause notice of contempt to General Secretary IHC Bar.

Chief Justice IHC Justice Athar Minallah heard the contempt case against Secretary IHC Bar Umair Baloch.

The tensions between bar and bench over PIC incident in Lahore, resolved with appearance of secretary and other bar officials before the court.

“We don’t believe in awarding sentences in contempt proceedings,” Justice Athar Minallah said.

“It was a painful decision to issue the show cause notice,” the Justice said.

“You arrived yesterday, it is sufficient if a person realizes matter.”

“We have appeared in the court for your respect,” the bar officials told the judge.

“We believe the bar will protect independence of the judiciary,” the justice further remarked.

“The third force will not be allowed to take benefit of the situation,” Justice Athar Minallah said.

High Court CJ  issued show cause notice and suspended licence of Umair Baloch for high court, in previous hearing.

The court had also issued notices to vice chairman Pakistan Bar Council, President Supreme Court Bar Association and Advocate General Islamabad.

The high court in its notice had summoned Umair Baloch and others in personal capacity on December 19.

Notice asked Umair Baloch to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him over interference in court proceedings.

The court order said Baloch forcefully removed lawyers from courtroom during the proceedings.

He appeared before the rostrum and his behaviour was not like a professional, the court order said.

The lawyers had announced a strike after a day earlier an attack on Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) and ransacking the hospital.

PIC becomes fully functional

PIC has become fully functional once again after disruption of its business for one week due to lawyers’ attack.

The emergency ward, however, had resumed services a couple of days after the incident.