ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday deferred, till May 10, framing of contempt of Court charges against senator Babar Awan, former law minister, after accepting his counsel's request to move an appeal against its reasoning to proceed further into the issue.

A two-Judge bench comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Athar Saeed put off hearing on the request of barrister Ali Zafar, who apprised the bench that before framing of charges, he should be given an opportunity to challenge its reasons.

The bench had resumed hearing of a suo motu notice taken on Babar Awan's address at a press conference held in Press Information Department on December 2, after initial order of the larger bench on memo issue.

On April 24, the bench had announced its reserved judgment over framing of contempt charges by saying that they could not drop the proceeding at this stage and set April 26 to indict him for contempt of court.

Barrister Ali Zafar, counsel for Babar Awan, had contended that his client had tendered a written apology which must be considered and the further proceedings for framing of contempt of court charges should be dropped.

He argued that it was not known in the judicial history of the country that after tendering of an apology, the contempt proceedings should continue.

He said there was no judgment over continuation of contempt under such circumstances. (APP)