HIV case: SHC adjourns contempt proceedings against lawyers until August 27

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has adjourned contempt of court proceedings against Advocate Tariq Mansoor, who represented the parents of children affected by HIV, until August 27.

During the hearing, Advocate Tariq Mansoor sought additional time to submit his response to the contempt proceedings.

“I was the counsel for the affected children and appeared before the court to seek justice for them,” the lawyer told the court.

Justice Iqbal Kalhoro, however, observed that the court’s mandate was not to hear the main case at this stage.

“You are before us on charges of contempt of court,” Justice Kalhoro remarked.

The lawyer representing Social Security told the court that the case had already concluded.

The court told Advocate Mansoor that if he required more time to submit his response, the request could be granted.

The court subsequently adjourned the contempt proceedings until August 27.

The parents of children affected by HIV at Welfare Hospital had previously approached the High Court seeking legal relief. Tensions reportedly escalated between the lawyer and members of the bench while the court was dictating its order on the petitions.

During the hearing, people present inside the courtroom also created a disturbance.

The court subsequently issued a contempt notice to the lawyer and directed that video footage from inside and outside the courtroom be preserved.