Staff Report

KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday formed a five-judge bench to hear over a dozen petitions seeking annulment of new Contempt of Court Act 2012.

A total of 18 petitions have been filed in the apex court against the Contempt Act.

The five-judge bench under the chair of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will commence hearing on July 23.

Justice Shakir ullah Jan, Justice Tasadduq Jeelani, Justice S. Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif are included in the bench.

Senate’s Chairman and National Assembly Speaker have filed their replies on a court notice.

In their joint reply, the two argued that they have nothing to do with the Contempt of Court Act. The Amendment Bill was brought by the government and was passed by the members of the Parliament.

Meanwhile Athar Minallah has excused himself from appearing in this case as a lawyer.

Minallah, who was to represent petitioner Baaz Muhammad Kakar, has distanced himself from the case due to presence of Chief Justice Chaudhry in the bench. SAMAA