ISLAMABAD, Sept 29: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted time to a judicial magistrate of Rawalpindi till October 4 to explain as to why he had remanded senior advocate Habib Wahabul Khairi in violation of law.

Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui while taking a suo motu notice had summoned the judicial magistrate, Rana Javed Nasir, to explain as to how he had granted ten-day remand when the accused was not produced before him.

The magistrate was also required to explain as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for acting in gross violation of the law. The magistrate appeared before the chief justice in his chambers and requested for adjournment of the hearing for a few days so that he could submit his written reply.

Supreme Court Bar Association President Justice (retired) Tariq Mahmood, Vice-President Mohammad Ikram Chaudhry, Zulfikar Bhutta, M. Bilal, Fazal Ellahi Siddiqui and Wahabul Khairi also appeared before the chief justice but were told that the chief justice had already granted time to the magistrate.