Pak Govt. to challenge SC's rejection of new Contempt Law

Islamabad, Aug.6 (ANI): The Pakistan Government has decided to challenge the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the controversial Contempt of Court Act (COCA) 2012.

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar confirmed that the government's decision in principle to file a review petition against the apex court's decision nullifying the new Contempt of Court Law, which had been passed by the two houses of parliament last month, reports The Dawn.

Babar said the government would also contest the apex court's July 12 order in which Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf had been asked to implement the NRO judgment and write to Swiss authorities seeking a re-opening of cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Ashraf has been given the deadline of August 8 to submit his response in the NRO judgment implementation case.

Babar said the decision has been taken in consultation with allied parties and legal experts.

However, legal experts are skeptical about the review petitions helping the government to buy the adequate time that it needs.

"As long as the Supreme Court doesn't issue a stay order against its August 3 decision on COCA, the decision will remain in effect. Admissibility of a review petition does not automatically disqualify the original decision that remains in place till the time the court decides otherwise," Supreme Court lawyer Salman Akram Raja said. (ANI)