Judgement reserved in Babar Awan contempt case

Footage of press conference aired during hearing, judgement to be announced on March 8.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan reserved its judgement on Thursday in the contempt of court case against former law minister Babar Awan.

The footage of Awan's controversial press conference was aired during the hearing, after which the judges reserved their judgement which will be announced on March 8.

Justice Athar Saeed, hearing the case, remarked that Awan had expressed 'scorn and sarcasm' against the judiciary in his press conference. He added that Awan, being a lawyer himself, should have been aware of all the limitations.

Heading the two-member bench, Justice Ejaz Afzal said that Awan used the word 'blackmailing' in his press conference which should not have been used under any circumstances.

Awan was served the contempt of court notice after he criticised the Supreme Court, in a press conference on December 1 last year. He had said that by ordering the Memogate probe, the apex court had denied the right of a bipartisan and bicameral parliamentary committee on national security to hold an inquiry into the scandal.