ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court restored the licence of former law minister Dr Babar Awan on Tuesday after suspension of two years.

However, the apex court decided to consider the contempt of court notice after hearing him in detail, and also after getting the point of view of Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt.

The license of Dr Awan was suspended when he ridiculed the apex court in a press conference on Dec 1, 2011 soon after the Supreme Court ordered an inquiry into the controversial memogate scandal. This was in addition to contempt of court charge.

Later on April 10, 2012, Dr Awan tendered an apology before the Supreme Court, especially to Justice Asif Saeed

Khosa whom he and some cabinet members had attacked of being the brother of Tariq Khosa.

The case was taken up on Tuesday by a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali.

President, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Kamran Murtaza representing Dr Awan argued that his client had tendered an unconditional apology before the apex court on May 9, 2012 but his case was not being decided.

He said the case had become an example of hardship pleading that advocacy was the sole profession of Dr Awan but his fundamental right to earn his livelihood had virtually been suspended for third running year.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2014