The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday accepted the unconditional apologies of Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and former special assistant to the Punjab chief minister on information Firdous Ashiq Awan in a case pertaining to the contempt of special court, Aaj News reported.

The high court warned the federal minister and the ex-aide to the PM against issuing such statements after accepting their written affidavits, which was presented upon the august house directives.

Fawad and Firdous were the remaining two respondents in the appeal filed against them in 2020. The petition accused them of committing the contempt of a special court, which had awarded a death sentence to former military ruler retired General Pervez Musharraf for high treason last year.

On December 17, 2019, the then PHC Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth while heading a special court had handed down the death sentence to former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf in the high treason case for imposing an emergency in the country on November 3, 2007.

The proceedings on apparent contempt of court had started in October 2020 after two identical petitions were filed by lawyers Malik Ajmal Khan and Syed Azizuddin Kakakhel under Article 204 of the Constitution read with Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003.

The other respondents in the case Law Minister Farogh Naseem, former special assistant to the prime minister on accountability Shahzad Akbar, and former attorney general for Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan had earlier appeared before PHC and tendered their apology.

Though Prime Minister Imran Khan was also a respondent in the petitions, the high court bench has so far not sought his reply.

On Wednesday, both the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders appeared before the court in person and tendered their unconditional apologies to the PHC.

To this, Justice Roohul Amin Khan said: “Go to the grave of the judge [Justice Seth], who has been disrespected and apologise. Allah also likes forgiveness, but it is necessary to apologise to the person whose emotions have been hurt. Go to his grave and apologise then come to us. You are responsible people and if you will use such a language then what will the common people do.”

Public representatives have an extra responsibility, he said, adding: “Legislators should omit this thought that they can speak against anyone.”

The court then asked Fawad and Firdous to submit a written affidavit.

Justice Roohul Amin said that the court would issue orders after the submission of affidavits.

Later, the court approved their apologies and warned against giving such statements.