Lawyer explains why Mohsin Naqvi was excluded from contempt case

ISLAMABAD: Barrister Uzair Bhandari, representing Dr Uzma Khan, has clarified why Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was not initially named as a respondent in the contempt of court petition filed before the Supreme Court.

Dr Uzma Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, filed the petition in connection with alleged non-compliance with a court order. Questions were subsequently raised over the absence of the interior minister from the list of respondents.

In a statement shared on X, Bhandari explained that the respondents were selected on the basis of their alleged involvement, public statements and administrative responsibilities.

He said Federal Ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar and Attaullah Tarar were included because they had publicly commented on the relevant court decision and the issue concerning the transfer.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was also named, Bhandari said, in line with the legal principle established by the Supreme Court in the Yousaf Raza Gilani case. Under that precedent, the prime minister carries ultimate administrative responsibility for ensuring compliance with court orders.

Regarding Mohsin Naqvi, the lawyer said the interior minister had not made any direct statement about the specific court decision at the time the petition was filed. As a result, there was no immediate basis for including him as a respondent.

Bhandari, however, clarified that this does not prevent Naqvi from being added to the proceedings in the future. If relevant evidence emerges during the investigation, or if the Supreme Court considers it necessary, the interior minister could subsequently be made a party to the case.

The lawyer also explained the inclusion of the Interior Secretary. Under the Rules of Business, 1973, the Interior Secretary serves as the administrative head of the Interior Division. The secretary was therefore named on the basis of the division’s legal and administrative responsibilities.