ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The Supreme Court accepted on Friday a request of former law minister Dr Babar Awan and put off to Feb 2 a hearing against him for his remarks ridiculing the judiciary.

A two-judge bench, comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed, adjourned the proceed- ings after Dr Awan sought time.

On Jan 5, the court issued a second show-cause notice to the former law minister and asked him to explain why his licence to practise in the apex court should not be cancelled.

Dr Awan is also facing a contempt charge for his media jibe against the judiciary.

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

On Friday, Dr Awan appeared before the specially-constituted bench and requested for more time to hire a counsel to plead his case.

The bench expressed surprise that he had not yet hired the service of a lawyer, asking Dr Awan to engage one as early as possible. He was asked to be careful in the meantime.