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Monday, December 23, 2024  
21 Jumada Al-Akhirah 1446  

SC defers Babar Awan contempt case hearing till June 27

ISLAMABAD: Senator Babar Awan, former law minister, on Tuesday apprised the Supreme Court that he did not want a trial in his contempt matter like that of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui with mere submission of an evidence.

Appearing before a two-Judge bench of Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Athar Saeed, Babar Awan, in contempt of Court issue, he objected to submission of an evidence by the Attorney General and requested the bench to note down his objection in the order regarding its admissibility.

In the absence of his counsel Barrister Ali Zafar, he said that he did not want initiation of trial like Aafia Siddiqui in which single evidence came and the whole trial started.

Justice Ejaz Afazl Khan told him not to draw parallel with Aafia's trial and objected to his arguments and said that under the process and procedures, besides conventions and code of ethics, his counsel should place contentions on his behalf.

Replying to a query of Justice Ejaz Afzal, Babar said that under conventions and keeping in view the relationship between the bench and the bar, he had already adopted a path and submitted his apology.

Attorney General for Pakistan Irfan Qadir submitted a CD containing the press conference of December 1, 2011 addressed by Babar Awan over the memo issue and recorded his statement.

To bench's query, he said that he was not an eye witness in the case, so he could not produce further evidences.

Justice Afzal told him that being a public prosecutor, it was his duty to argue the case further.

Upon bench's inquiry, Babar Awan requested that he would be requiring at least eight weeks for compiling his evidences and arranging defense witnesses.

However, the bench disagreeing with his request adjourned hearing till June 27.

The bench was hearing a suo motu notice taken on Babar Awan's address at a press conference held in Press Information Department on December 1, after initial order of the larger bench on memo issue.

The same bench had also indicted Babar in contempt under relevant provisions.

During previous proceedings, Babar Awan requested the bench to consider his unconditional apology he had tendered with it and drop further proceedings.