ISLAMABAD : September 8,2022. A 5- member bench of the Islamabad High Court ( IHC) on Thursday rejected written reply of the Pakistan Tehreek- e Insaf (PTI) chairman, Imran Khan , and decided to indict him in contempt case in September 22,2022.
The IHC bench headed by chief justice , Athar Min’ Allah observed during the hearing of the case that the role of the leaders is always very important as they set a model and standards for the society and its firm opinion of the court that every citizen have freedom of speech enshrined in the constitution, but no one could be allowed to create provocation for some purpose in the society
The chief justice said the former prime minister used provocative language in the rally held in Islamabad to give reaction over arrest of his party leader, Shahbaz Gill . The chief justice further observed that Imran Khan used threatening language against a judge of the district court . He further observed that it has been already decided that the district courts and its honourable judges are a red line and this court will not spare any provocative language against any of the judges.
The chief justice deplored that social media is being used by some political parties to malign the judiciary and enquired from the lawyers who are defending Imran Khan in the case if Imran Khan ever advised social media to stop malign the judiciary and make the judges controversial .
The chief justice noted that PTI chief did not express his apology in his written reply submitted to the IHC.
Attorney general , Aushter Ausaf Ali while assisting the court as a law officer said Imran Khan expressed remorse over his what he described as unintentional remarks about the female judge, but not tender apology for his remarks made in a public rally.
He further informed the court that the PTI chairman has not accepted his fault in his written reply submitted to the court on September 7,2022.
Mukhdoom Ali Khan , amicus curiae , was of the view that what Imran Khan uttered in his emotional address in the public rally adversely affected the judicial system of the country.
He further said Imran Khan did not tender unconditional apology in his written reply.
Munir A Malik, amicus curiae, opined before the court that the court should show restrains while dealing a contempt case against any political leader.
Akhtar Hussain , another amicus curiae , said the PTI chief gave the statement in the public rally about the district judge when he was in pressure after having information of torture on his chief security officer in the police custody. He added that Imran Khan did not tender apology in his written reply in the case.
Hamid Khan , counsel of Imran Khan, pleaded in his arguments that his client has great respect for the judiciary and he has declared it in public rally many times . He said in contempt cases the courts accept remorse and in this case the court can advice some other means for it.
PTI chief who was present in the courtroom during the hearing of the case said he was not given hearing in the case. In its response , the chief justice said when the court had listened to the lawyers of PTI chief he can not be permitted to give his arguments.
.After hearing the arguments of the legal team, the court turned down the reply of Imran Khan citing it as dissatisfactory and issued notice for September 22 to indict Imran Khan in the case.