The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned hearing of contempt of court case against former law minister Dr Babar Awan due to non-availability of Attorney General for Pakistan. A three-member bench led by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali resumed the hearing. Ali Zafar, counsel for the Awan, appeared before it.
Deputy Attorney General apprised the bench that Attorney General for Pakistan Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq had gone to Quetta, where Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had been hearing the Balochistan law and order case. Justice Jamali said the absence of AGP did not matter as the charges could be framed. However, Ali the counsel for Babar Awan contended that the AGP's presence was mandatory at the time of framing charges. The bench adjourned the hearing till April 10. Later, Ali Zafar told media that his client had not uttered any remarks to ridicule judiciary, adding that the freedom of speech could not be barred in the name of the freedom of justice.