Supreme Court not a 'court of contempt': Babar

Former Law Minister Babar Awan told Supreme Court on Wednesday that there existed general impression that the apex court was giving higher priority to contempt cases. "Pakistan's apex court is not a court of contempt; it is a court of constitution," Babar Awan said in his contempt of court case.
A two-member bench of Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed was hearing the contempt of court case against Awan. Awan has been accused of ridiculing judiciary while addressing a press conference on 1st December, 2011.
During the course of proceedings, Awan expressed concern over the increase in the number of contempt cases and contended that more contempt cases were being heard in the apex court than in any other court in the country.
Awan urged the bench to take notice of the public rallies and press conferences in favour of the judiciary, adding that under Article 204, any attempt aimed at influencing the court's process was also contempt of court. The court responded by asking him to avoid repeating that argument. Upon this, former law minister said that no one was a "holy cow" in Pakistan and queried why he should not talk about those politicians who were expressing solidarity with the judiciary by arranging rallies and staging sit-in demonstrations. He questioned why the court was not taking notice in that regard.
"The case against me is that I have given a statement that the father-in-law of a sitting judge hanged Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto," he added.
Awan argued that one of the judges on the bench had said that he would never pardon him. He said a judge's oath restricted him from making such remarks. Awan further said that for the past six months he had been requesting the court to hear his application in relation to the suspension of his license.
Upon this, Justice Ejaz said the bench was listening to his arguments. Babar replied that the judges in the ZAB murder case had also made the same remarks.
"Give me any example except Chief Justice's manhandling case, in which the court rejected an unconditional apology in a contempt case. Why am I being treated differently," he asked. During the course of hearing, there took place an exchange of harsh words. Later, the court directed Awan to conclude his arguments by July 12 (today).