PML-N’s Daniyal Aziz found guilty of contempt of court

The Supreme Court convicted PML-N leader Daniyal Aziz for contempt of court on Thursday.

Justice Mushir Alam read the verdict, which sentenced Aziz till "rising of the court". The court ruled that Aziz had attempted to malign the court in his speech and spread hatred in light of Section 2 (b) of Article 204 of the Constitution.

Aziz, who is a former state minister for privatisation, received a contempt notice on February 2 over his “controversial speeches and statements made during TV shows”. He was indicted on March 13. The court reserved its verdict on May 3.

Strict security measures were in place in and outside the court for the verdict. An armoured personnel vehicle of the police was stationed at the court.

Analysis: Verdict against Daniyal Aziz sets precedent

The PML-N leader was issued a party ticket to contest the election from NA-77, Narowal-I. His fate in the election hangs in the balance now as the verdict might translate into automatic disqualification from holding public office.

In February, the top court had disqualified another PML-N leader, Nehal Hashmi, from holding public office for the next five years besides handing him a one-month jail sentence to one month and a Rs50,000 fine. He was found guilty of delivering hateful and threatening speeches against judges.