[oraltyrap]

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) will resume the hearing of contempt case against former law minister Senator Babar Awan who is likely to be indicted today, Geo News reported.

A three-member bench of apex court comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan and Justice Athar Saeed will hear the case against Awan.

On Monday, the bench heard the case regarding the former law minister's derogatory remarks against the apex court but Babar Awan could not be charge-sheeted due to the absence of Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq.

Deputy Attorney General appeared before the bench and submitted that the AGP was present in Supreme Court's Quetta Registry where Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing Balochistan peace-related cases, therefore, he could not attend Awan’s contempt case hearing in Islamabad.

The SC was due to indict Babar Awan but due to the absence of Attorney General, Babar Awan's Counsel Barrister Ali Zafer told the court that presence of the Attorney General was necessary on this occasion. He pleaded the court to adjourn the proceedings.

In his remarks, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said the court has decided to convict Babar Awan in the contempt case. Later the court adjourned the proceedings of the case till April 10.

SC had taken the notice of former law minister's press conference on Memogate scandal that ridiculed the apex court's orders. Supreme Court in its verdict had declared that the press conference of December 31 by the former law minister come under the contempt of court. The court will indict Babar Awan and after that formal trial of the case would be initiated.

On last hearing, the court wanted to frame charges against Babar Awan but he requested the court to postpone the case due to assignments of his counsel Ali Zafar in Lahore. The court, while accepting his request had adjourned the hearing till April 2.