The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a contempt of court notice to Rawalpindi-based cleric Agha Iftikharuddin Mirza in the suo motu case related to the threats issued to Justice Faez Isa, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The development came after Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, during the hearing, at point remarked that the court would punish immediately and the accused would have to spend months in prison.

The counsel for the accused argued that Mirza had tendered an unconditional apology, but the chief justice observed that the process adopted to submit the apology was also wrong as it had been filed on a plain paper.

Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan remarked how they could forgive in such a case, while the chief justice told the defence counsel that he was taking the case lightly and didn’t understand the nature of the matter.

When Chief Justice Gulzar remarked that they would send the accused to prison for six months, the counsel said his client was a heart patient.

However, the chief justice said what they could do as he should have controlled his tongue, as the court adjourned further hearing till July 15.

Earlier on Wednesday, the FIA submitted an interim report in which it was stated that Mirza had owned content but denied making the speech on anyone’s instigation or direction.

The apex court had taken suo motu notice of the matter after the wife of Justice Faez approached the Secretariat Police Station to file a complaint that her husband was being threatened. However, the matter was later referred to the FIA.