ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Monday deferred proceedings on an Intra Court Appeal (ICA) of former Law Minister Babar Awan seeking the restoration of his suspended practicing licence, as the larger bench was not available for the time being.
A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain took up an ICA moved by Babar Awan.
The Chief Justice told him that a 10-member bench could take up his appeal and for the time being it was not available.
Awan had tendered unconditional apology, praying for restoration of his practicing licence, which was temporarily suspended by the court for ridiculing the judiciary.
The Supreme Court on January 17th had temporarily suspended the former Law Minister’s practicing licence under Order V, rule 30 of the Supreme Court Rules, 1980 for allegedly ridiculing a show-cause notice served upon him by another bench.
Babar in his plea said that he was a professional lawyer having no other source of livelihood and his fundamental rights stood suspended after the suspension of his practicing licence.
He stated that a 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.
He requested the court to accept his apology and recall its January 17th order.