ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday temporarily revoked Babar
Awan’s license to practice the law over his ‘inappropriate’ and ‘unfair’
behavior in the court in Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto reference case.
An
11-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry,
resumed hearing of the case. It said ZAB reference case would remain
suspended unless the federation appoints a new counsel in lieu of Babar
Awan.
The court also sought details of Awan’s academic qualifications and testimonial of his law practice from the bar council.
A
large number of lawyers, belonging to PPP’s Peoples Lawyers’ Forum,
arrived in the court and chanted slogan in favor of Awan who is also a
PPP central leader and closed aide of President Asif Ali Zardari.
“We
were obliged to do this. Inform the President that your licence has
been cancelled,” the Chief Justice addressed Babar Awan, directing the
Attorney General of Pakistan to hire a new counsel for the case.
During the course of hearing, Awan said he would use the option of ‘silence’ and would hire a counsel for his defence.
The
court observed that Bawar Awan used derogatory language against the
judiciary during a press conference which was attended by other PPP
leaders as well.
The Chief Justice suspended hearing of the case till naming of a new lawyer for the presidential reference. Online
