The five-member bench of Supreme Court, comprising Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Shakirullah Jan, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Jawad S Khawaja and Justice Tassadduq Hussain Jilani, resumed the hearing of various identical petitions challenging the Contempt of Court Act 2012.
The chief justice said the judiciary was making all efforts not to derail democracy from its path.
One of the members of the bench, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani said that article 204 of the constitution provides immunity to no one, adding that the contempt of court bill is a violation to constitution.
Justice Jawad S Khawaja said the constitution allows launching inquiry against those committing contempt of court then how a law subjecting to the contempt of court provides immunity.
Referring to the transcript of the parliamentary debate that took place while passing the bill, the chief justice said that they had concerns over the debate as references from constitution were not given by the lawmakers, adding that the debate said that the law was made to provide protection to few people.
One of the petitioners Raja Afrasiyab said that the law was enacted to protect prime minister from article 63-A of the constitution.
Justice Jawad S Khawaja added that the article 25 was affected the most by the new contempt of court law.
No one enjoys immunity under Article 204: SC
