Additional Registrar Judicial of the Supreme Court, Nazar Abbas, has challenged the contempt of court show cause notice issued against him and filed a request to stay the contempt proceedings. The Supreme Court has formed a six-member larger bench to hear his intra-court appeal.

The bench, headed by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, includes Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed, and Justice Musarrat Hilali. The larger bench will hear the appeal on January 27 at 1 PM.

This development follows remarks by senior Supreme Court judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, who, during a hearing regarding bench powers, stated that prima facie, the two-member judges’ committee ignored a judicial order and suggested that the matter should be referred to the full court.

Nazar Abbas submitted his response to the court, denying non-compliance with the judicial order and requesting the withdrawal of the show cause notice. He clarified that he had prepared a note regarding bench formation and forwarded it to the Practice and Procedure Committee.

It is pertinent to note that the Supreme Court, earlier this week, ordered the removal of Nazar Abbas from his position as Additional Registrar Judicial for not scheduling the bench powers case for a hearing despite a court directive. Following this, the Additional Registrar (Administration) issued a notification declaring him an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) until further notice.

According to a statement issued by the Supreme Court, Nazar Abbas was found guilty of a serious lapse by scheduling a constitutional bench case before a regular bench, which resulted in the wastage of time and resources of the court and the parties involved. The Registrar of the Supreme Court has been directed to address the matter.