ISLAMABAD: August 31, 2022: A larger bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has granted 7-day time to Pakistan Tehreek- e -Insaf (PTI) chairman, Imran Khan, to submit a written reply in the contempt case. The court will reassemble on September 8, 2022.
The court made Imran Khan’s counsel, Hamid Khan, to read out three verdicts of Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) relating to the case faced by PTI chairman.
During the arguments of the counsel for PTI, chief justice IHC , Athar Minallah , observed that he was disappointed with the reply submitted by PTI chairman in the case.
He further observed Imran Khan, who is very respected politician, was not taking the nature of what he divulged for the district and session judge seriously .
The chief justice, Athar Minallah noted that he was shown an owner of the flat in London and his picture with a judge of SCP. He deplored that he was shown as a worker of the political party.
Athar Minallah addressed to Hamid Khan, the counsel for Imran Khan, and said you (Hamid Khan) are not counsel of the PTI chairman only, but a senior lawyer and in that capacity you are an aide to this court.
The chief justice deplored that the political parties were showing irresponsible behaviour. He quoted his own example and said he was shown in a picture as a worker of a particular party.
Justice Athar Minallah observed that the judiciary welcomes constructive criticism, but it cannot oversee targeted criticism aimed at damaging reputation of the judiciary.
The court has appointed Munir A Malik, Makhdoom Ali Khan and Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) as actuary to assist the court in the case.
PTI chairman is facing a contempt case for hurling threats to a lady district and session judge Islamabad and senior police officials of Islamabad police.
PTI chairman had used extremely objectionable language against the judge for granting physical remand of Shahbaz Gill in sedition case.
IHC had taken suo moto of Imran Khan’s rant against the district and session judge and summoned him for reply in contempt case on August 31, 2022 (today).
Earlier, Imran Khan, appeared before IHC in foolproof security. The registrar IHC had a day earlier issued a code of conduct and list for those who could come into the court with PTI chairman.
The media was also issued passes for coverage of the proceedings of the case.
