Babar Awan requests SC to refer his case to PBC
06 July, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Former law minister Babar Awan requested the Supreme Court to refer his contempt of court case to the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), requesting the court to consider the plea to transfer the case as the Dr Arsalan case had been referred to a proper forum for further proceedings.
A two-member bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed, is hearing the contempt of court case against the former law minister for addressing a press conference against a court order on December 1, 2011.
Resuming his arguments, Awan questioned that in the absence of contempt law, how the contempt proceedings were going on against him. He also said that a 16-member bench had admitted that there was no contempt law in the country.
He raised an objection, saying the Supreme Court had not issued notices to other leaders who were sitting along with him during the December 1 press conference, adding that the contempt proceedings had been started only against him.
"Contempt of court proceedings were initiated against me because I am a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court," he said.
Awan, while citing Dr Arsalan case as a precedent and requesting his case to be referred to a proper forum, termed the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) a proper forum to decide the matter. Upon this, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan told him that if the court reached the conclusion that it was a professional misconduct on his part, his case could be referred to a proper forum for disciplinary action.
"If the result of the proceedings is acquittal, who will then be responsible for the damage done to me during the lengthy trial?" Awan asked. However, he prayed the bench, saying it was the appropriate time for considering his unconditional apology as the trial was in its final stages and that the court would be announcing its judgement after the final stages concluded.
Awan said the Supreme Court had suspended his practicing licence seven months ago and that he would not care if his Senate seat was taken from him.
During the proceedings, Awan also cited verses from the holy Quran before the bench. After concluding his arguments, he pleaded the court that his case should not be heard on Friday.
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