ISLAMABAD, July 11: Former law minister Babar Awan bemoaned on Wednesday before the Supreme Court hearing contempt charges against him that the superior judiciary was focusing excessively on contempt cases.

“The world over an impression has been created as if the Supreme Court of Pakistan is focusing more on the contempt cases,” Mr Awan said, adding that the apex court was a constitutional court and not the court of contempt.

An SC bench comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed was hearing the contempt case against Mr Awan for his jibe at the judiciary at a press conference he addressed on Dec 1 last year soon after the apex court had ordered an inquiry into the memogate scandal.

No court in the world is seized with as many contempt cases as the Supreme Court of Pakistan, he said. This takes away the freedom of expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution, he feared.

Mr Awan, who is defending himself in the case, asked the bench to take notice of press conferences and public rallies being held these days in favour of the judiciary and said even influencing the court’s process amounted to contempt under Article 204 of the Constitution.