ISLAMABAD, Jan 4: The Supreme Court issued on Wednesday contempt notices to five PPP leaders, including two federal ministers, for allegedly making derogatory remarks about judiciary.

The notices were issued to Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashig Awan, Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Shah, former information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, former law minister Babar Awan and his younger brother Farooq Awan, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Law and Justice.

On Dec 1, immediately after the apex court issued an order in the memo case, the PPP leaders criticised the decision at a press con-ference and made some remarks which were considered derogatory by the court.

The PPP leaders have been asked to appear on Jan 13. The court observed that various aspects of statements made at the press conference come under the purview of contempt of court.

Babar Awan had accused the Supreme Court of negating the basic principle of justice by not allowing the federation to present its viewpoint. He also accused the court of violating a basic human right enshrined in the Constitution by restricting the movement of former ambassador Husain Haqqani without giving him a chance to present his point of view.'We respect the courts but the verdict to constitute a commission to probe the memo issue was given without hearing the federation of Pakistan and giving notice to it. Nawaz Sharif wants confrontation among institutions,' Mr Awan said. He also said that only the executive had the authority to form such a commission.

Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashig Awan said at the press conference that something unique had happened on the Constitution Avenue where the staff of the Supreme Court gave protocol to Nawaz Sharif, the 'VIP petitioner' of the memo case, while others with him were allowed to enter the court premises without invitation cards.