The Supreme Court on Thursday decided to formally indict Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) vice president and senior lawyer Dr Babar Awan on March 20 in a contempt case, filed against him for addressing a press conference against the court’s December 1, 2011 order into memo controversy, in which he passed derogatory remarks against the apex court and one of its judges.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Ather Saeed after hearing preliminary arguments by Babar Awan’s defence counsel on March 1 had reserved its decision over the show-cause notice earlier issued to Babar Awan in contempt case.
“The court observed that after going through the facts and examining the video, we are of the considered opinion that the matter should be further proceeded and the case be adjourned for March 20, 2012 for framing the charge against the accused.”
When the court announced its verdict, Babar Awan came to the court’s rostrum and recited a verse from the Holy Quran, which means: “Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help”.
During Thursday’s proceedings, a large number of lawyers was present with Awan in the courtroom.
After the court announced its decision, the lawyers raised slogans in favor of Babar Awan and pasted stickers on the walls of Supreme Court building reading “Babar Awan is innocent”.
The video footage of the press conference held by Dr Babar Awan along with other PPP leaders was screened in the courtroom on the last date of hearing.
On last hearing, Ali Zafar, counsel for Babar Awan, had argued that his client had not given any remarks, which ridiculed the judiciary. The court, however, had pointed out that the remarks were passed against the family of an apex court judge in the December 1, 2011 press conference.
Zafar, however, had stated that his client in his statement had reconfirmed that he had utmost respect and regard for him (the judge) and considered him to be a leading luminary and in case any hurt was felt by him (Justice Asif Saeed Khosa), he (Babar Awan) had personal pain and deepest regrets to the honourable judge.
Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan had observed that Awan had only expressed regrets but not tendered apology about his remarks about the family of an apex court’s judge. He had said Awan was a popular lawyer as well as a politician, therefore, he should have respected the judiciary.
Zafar had repeatedly said that his client was accused of committing judicial contempt and in such proceedings the court was like a parent while the alleged contemnor was similar to an errant child, and this was why the world over this contempt jurisdiction was used sparingly, in exceptional circumstances and not by way of punishment.
Earlier, the court had suspended the law practice licence of Babar Awan after declaring his behaviour ‘unbecoming’.
