CJP transfers Faisal Raza Abidi's contempt case to different bench

The court, however, rejected the plea to shift the matter to the SC's Karachi registry

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday transferred Faisal Raza Abidi's contempt case to another bench.

Abidi had submitted an application requesting the formation of a new bench comprising of non-Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) judges to hear the case. The court, however, rejected his plea to shift the matter to the SC's Karachi registry.



The bench resumed the hearing of contempt case filed against the former senator and even played a video clip of his speech in the courtroom. "There are manners and etiquette of standing in a court," the CJP remarked to Abidi.

The court, however, witnessed a strong exchange of statements between the bench and Abidi's counsel. "Your way to defend is inappropriate, do you license for the SC?" Justice Ijazul Hasan remarked. "Do not make so much commentary; let the case be heard," Justice Umar Ata Bandyal added.

Abidi's counsel and the bench continued the banter until the court rejected the transfer plea to Karachi.

On April 18, the top court ordered police to produce former senator Faisal Raza Abidi before the court for using derogatory language against the country’s top judge.



Hearing the contempt notice, the apex court’s three-judge bench, headed by the CJP, also rejected an unconditional apology of a private TV channel’s owner. The bench issued show cause notice to the owner, asking him that why the contempt proceedings should not be initiated for airing contemptuous programme.