SC Registrar returns NAB’s chief reply in contempt case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Registrar Dr Faqir Hussain on Saturday returned back the reply of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari in the contempt of court case against him, terming it extraneous.

The NAB Chairman in his reply sought change of the Supreme Court bench to hear the contempt of court case against him. He contended that a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, which had issued him a contempt notice and was hearing the contempt case against him was biased.

Thus, he said a separate bench should be constituted to hear the contempt case against him. He said in particular the chief justice should separate himself from the bench. Returning the reply, the Registrar noted that the reply was extraneous and had no link with the case.

Besides, he noted that objectionable and derogatory language was used in the reply.

A three-member Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Sh. Azmat Saeed has to hear the contempt case against Mr Bokhari on February 18 (Monday).

Earlier on February 12, the same bench had directed the NAB chief to appear before it on February 18 to explain his position in the contempt of court case against him. Advocate Naveed Rasool had told the bench that he was recently engaged by the NAB chairman as his counsel to plead the contempt case against him.

Thus, he required two-week time for submitting reply, The court however had directed him to file the reply till February 18. The court had also directed the NAB chairman to must appear on Feb 18.