ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued contempt of court notice to former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in the rental power projects case.

The court issued the notice to Ashraf for trying to influence it by writing a letter to the Chief Justice, asking him to constitute a commission to investigate the RPP case.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the case.

The chief justice remarked that Raja Pervez Ashraf attempted to approach the court for a separate commission which was tantamount to seeking “favours from the court without the completion of the due process.”

The court also observed that the writing a letter in his official capacity also amounted to influencing the court.

“It could have been possible for him to appear in person or through a counsel instead of writing the letter.”

The court added that Ashraf had already exhausted legal remedies.

“We direct notice to be issued to Raja Pervez Ashraf under the article 204(3) read with contempt of court ordinance of 2003 to file a reply as to why contempt proceeding should not be initiated against him,” the court ordered.

Adjourning the hearing, the bench ordered Ashraf to appear before the court in two weeks time.