News
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Babar apologises to SC, seeks restoration of practicing licence* Former minister says appointment of ad hoc judges in apex court legal
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Former law minister Babar Awan on Monday tendered his unconditional apology before the Supreme Court and requested for restoring his licence to practice law.
The Supreme Court had temporarily suspended his licence on January 17 for ridiculing the judiciary and criticising the court’s order in memo case.
Babar had recited some poetic words outside the SC building at which the court had taken action against him and had temporarily suspended his licence. “I am a professional lawyer having no other source of livelihood and my fundamental right stands suspended after the court suspended my law practicing licence,” Babar stated in his application. He stated that due to temporary suspension of his licence, significant number of litigants, who engaged him as lawyer over a period of years, were suffering irreparable loss, while his staff was also facing hardships. Babar stated that he did not wish to engage a lawyer and defend his case any more after expressing regrets. He requested the bench to accept his apology and revoke the order regarding the suspension of his licence. He further stated that whatever he spoke in the press conference as well as in the press talk was unintentional based on inadvertence and he was offering his unconditionally apology for his utterances, which, prima facie, were found to be disrespectful by the apex court.
Later, talking to reporters outside the Supreme Court, Babar termed the appointment of ad hoc judges in the Supreme Court legal. He said although he was not in favour of the idea of appointment of ad hoc judges in the apex court, however, such appointments in the apex court were legal under Articles 175-A, 181 and 182 of the constitution.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk