ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed on Wednesday PTI Chairman Imran to resubmit his response within the next seven days in the contempt of court docket case against him for threatening a lady judge.
A five-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, and Justice Babar Sattar heard the case.
In response to the IHC’s show-cause note in the case, the PTI chairman did now not apologise for threatening additional sessions judge of Islamabad, Zeba Chaudhry, offering, however, to withdraw his remarks “if they had been inappropriate.”
The IHC CJ, during the hearing, stated he used to be “disappointed” by the response of Khan in the case. He asked him to review his response and submit it as soon as more.
Without asking Khan to come to the rostrum, the court docket adjourned the listening to and ordered that the response can be submitted via the PTI chairman’s counsel.
Today’s hearing
At the outset of the hearing, Khan’s lawyer Hamid Khan came forward and took the stand. IHC CJ Minallah told him that though he used to be Khan’s lawyer, he used to be additionally there to assist the court.
“I did now not expect this from you,” the IHC CJ stated in response to the reply that the lawyer submitted on behalf of Khan.
IHC CJ Minallah noted that a political party have to continually believe in upholding the law and the constitution. “In the last 70 years, a frequent man has now not been capable to make it to the high courts and the Supreme Court.”
The IHC CJ stated that he was once “saddened” by the response that Khan submitted in response to the show-cause notice.
Justice Minallah stated that he hoped that the PTI chairman would boost the court’s confidence, however, it should be noted that simply like “the time that has passed by can’t come back, the phrases uttered through one’s tongue cannot be taken back”.
The court stated that Khan is a famous leader and has a big following, therefore, he should assume before he speaks.
“I was once expecting that he [Khan] might come to terms with the fact that he has done some thing wrong. A political leader has several followers, they need to assume earlier than they speak.”
“Through your response, I feel that Imran Khan has not understood that he has done something wrong,” the IHC CJ told the PTI chairman’s lawyer.
In the last three years — at some point of PTI’s tenure — the IHC has raised the trouble of torture without any fear, noting that the state has stimulated torture in the last 70 years.
“Torture, at any level, can’t be allowed. Is there a worse structure of torture than making any person disappear?” the court asked, as the PTI keeps claiming that party leader Shahbaz Gill was once tortured by the police.
Taking ahead the PTI’s claims, Khan had earlier this month went on to criticise the additional district and sessions judge for rejecting his bail plea of Gill.
Justice Minallah asked who had control of Adiala Jail — the place Gill was once imprisoned for a few days. “If there is even a small grievance of torture, then can the jail authorities imprison a person without medical examination?”
The IHC CJ went on to say that the PTI ought to appear at the instances of journalists Asad Toor and Absar Alam. He brought that at some stage in the last three years, the IHC sent such matters to the PTI’s federal cabinet.
“I want they had raised their voice in this regard then.”
During the proceedings, Islamabad Advocate-General Jahangir Jadoon tried to talk however used to be stopped. “This be counted is between the individual who has allegedly dedicated contempt of court docket and the court.”
The IHC CJ then requested when the excessive court docket wrapped up the case of the alleged torture of Gill and when the speech was once made. At this, Khan’s tips stated that the court docket concluded the case on August 22 and the PTI chairman delivered the speech on August 20.
“The count used to be already pending in the IHC whilst he made the speech. You need to examine Firdous Ashiq Awan’s judgement. Under PECA ordinance, the character speakme in opposition to establishments will no longer even get bail for six months.”
This court, IHC CJ said, nullified the PECA ordinance and then a smear marketing campaign was once began towards it. “However, the courts by no means care about criticism.”
Moving on, Justice Minallah stated that Khan continues asking why the courts have been opened at 12am — in the course of the National Assembly’s vote of no-confidence in opposition to the ex-premier in April.
“This courtroom will continue to be open for the susceptible 24/7. However, the courts do no longer want to justify earlier than everybody as to why they open and when.”
