CJ takes notice of Babar Awan’s statement

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Chaudhry Iftikhar on Thursday took notice of PPP leader Senator Babar Awan’s statement while talking to media on Wednesday where he belittled the issuing of contempt notices by the Supreme Court (SC) to him and some of other PPP colleagues by ridiculing it, Geo News reported.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry has also asked for the relevant video clips and newspaper cuttings that will be presented during the hearing.

The CJ reprimanded Awan and said that nothing can be done unless courts would not be respected. On this, Awan said that the court could not give a decision without hearing him.

Talking to media persons after the hearing of the Bhutto reference case in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Babar Awan said it was not the first instance that such treatment was meted out to him by the courts.

He recited a verse in Seraiki language to relate the situation: “Notice milya, kakh na hilleya, kiun sohneyan da gila karan; ma lakh wari Bismillah karan,” meaning that “the notice was issued but nothing happened, so why should I complain. I’ll always welcome such moves.”

The PPP leader said this in reaction to the show cause notices sent to him and other PPP leaders by the Supreme Court for their press conference in which they used objectionable language against the judiciary.