PM contempt: 9-member bench to hear Gilani’s appeal

One additional judge, two ad-hoc judges will be called to complete the nine-member bench if appeal is filed.

SIBI: A nine-member bench will be formed if an appeal is filed against the Supreme Court’s judgment in the prime minister contempt case, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said on Tuesday.

Addressing the Sibi Bar Association, the chief justice said that if an appeal is filed, it will be heard by a bench consisting of nine judges. But, he added, that three judges have refused to hear the appeal due to certain reasons.

One additional judge and two ad-hoc judges will be called to complete the nine-member bench, the chief justice added.

According to sources, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice MA Shahid Siddiqui will be the ad-hoc judges and Justice Umar Ata Bandyal will be the additional Supreme Court judge on the bench.

A judicial commission meeting has also been summoned on May 7.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan convicted Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani of contempt of court for not writing a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari as ordered in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) implementation case.

The government has said that it will wait for the apex court to pass a detailed verdict before filing an appeal.