ISLAMABAD: An 11-member special larger bench of the Supreme Court Monday adjourned the hearing of the case of manhandling of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to a date in office.

The bench adjourned the hearing while accepting applications of two accused officers, deputy commissioner Muhammad Ali and DSP Jamil Hashmi, that they were currently out of the country.

The bench directed the counsels of two officers to submit applications in the court regarding fixation of next hearing in the case as the court was informed that the officers now out of the country will return till June 15.

Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum, who appeared before the bench on court notice, apprised the court that there was no existing contempt law in the country as repeatedly contempt laws were repealed or amended through Act of Parliament or ordinances.

He was asked by the bench under which laws appeals or review petitions of the seven accused officers could be heard.

Mujib-ur-Rehman advocate appearing as counsel of Inspector General of Police Iftikhar Ahmed Chaudhry and SSP Zafar Iqbal presented details about contempt laws introduced from time to time in the country in 1976, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Dr. Khalid Ranjha appearing before the court as counsel of Khalid Pervez and other officials tendered unconditional apology repeatedly and left the matter to the mercy of the court.

Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar said that the Supreme Court has ample powers under Article 205 of the Constitution to deal with cases of contempt.

The cases related to the seven officers would be heard simultaneously, the bench observed.

The bench consisted of Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar, Justice M.Javed Buttar, Justice Ijaz-ul-Hassan, Justice Muhammad Qaim Jan Khan, Justice Ch. Ejaz Yousaf, Justice Muhammad Akhtar Shabbir, Justice Zia Pervez, Justice Mian Hamid Farooq, Justice Syed Zawwar Hussain Jaffery and Justice Muhammad Farrukh Mehmood.

The seven accused officers were Inspector General of Police Islamabad, Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmed, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Khalid Pervez, Deputy Commissioner, Muhammad Ali, Senior Superintendent of Police Capt. (Retd) Zafar Iqbal, Deputy Superintendent of Police I/9 Circle, Jameel Hashmi, Inspector Rukhsar Mehdi (SHO and ASI Muhammad Siraj (ASI).

They were awarded sentence which was later suspended by the Supreme Court.

Raja Ibrahim Satti appeared before the court as counsel of DSP Jamil Hashmi and Raja Bashir represented Rukhsar Mehdi ASI. (APP)

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