Former Law Minister Babar Awan
Former minister Babar Awan. — File Photo

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard the contempt of court case against former minister Babar Awan, DawnNews reported.

A two judge bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Athar Saeed, heard the case.

Awan is facing the contempt charge for his media jibe at the judiciary. He had severely criticised the apex court at a press conference on Dec 1 last year soon after it had ordered an inquiry into the memo scandal by Tariq Khosa, a former director general of the FIA, and attacked a sitting SC judge for being a brother of Khosa.

During the hearing, Awan argued that one of the judges on the bench had said that even if others were to pardon him, he would not pardon Awan.

Awan said that a judge’s oath restricted him from making such remarks.

The former minister moreover said that for the past six months he had been requesting the court to hear his application regarding the suspension of his license but that his application was not being admitted for hearing.

He moreover complained that the court was rushing in his contempt of court matter, upon which Justice Ejaz said that the bench was heeding to Awan's arguments.

Later on, the bench adjourned the hearing to Thursday (tomorrow).

During a previous hearing, Awan had bemoaned that he was being discriminated against saying that "justice will be seen to be done only if people are treated with parity".

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