Khyber News

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) resumed hearing of the 27 identical petitions challenging the Contempt of Court Act 2012 here on Thursday. 

A five member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Shakirullah Jan, Justice Khilji Arif Husain, Justice Jawad S Khawaja and Justice Tassaduq Husain Jillani, resumed hearing of the petitions.  

During today’s proceedings, Attorney General Pakistan Irfan Qadir objected over the four judges of the bench hearing the petition. The AGP said that the four judges were biased. Upon this, the chief justice   Pakistan (CJP) remarked that the AGP remarks were defaming the judiciary. The CJP said that it was not the first time the AGP had done so. 

The federation’s counsel in the contempt law case, Abdul Shakoor Paracha, while arguing before the court on Tuesday, admitted that the Contempt of Court Act, 2012 might have been promulgated to protect the second prime minister from disqualification, submitting that everybody knew that law was never made in isolation or without motive.

Meanwhile, remarking that legislation is parliament’s job and the SC has the constitutional right to interpret the law during adjudication of matters placed before it, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary observed that the Contempt of Court Act, 2012 violated the principle of equity and equality and had been made only to save the new prime minister.

The chief justice observed that the government’s claim that the new contempt law was without flaws was incorrect and all matters of public interest could be taken up in courts.

Expressing concern over non-implementation of Article 9, 24 and 25, the chief justice asked the government through its counsel to ensure enforcement of the relevant provisions of the Constitution to protect the life and property of citizens.

The hearing was adjourned till Friday, August 3.