IHC is disappointed with Imran response in the contempt matter.

 

After Imran claimed a "misunderstanding" in the contempt case and asked for the terrorism charges to be dropped, tensions are still high.

ISLAMABAD:

Athar Minallah, Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), voiced his disappointment with Imran Khan's written statement in a contempt case as he came before the court today (Wednesday) amidst heavy security. Imran Khan is the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). In seven days, the court mandated the submission of a second response.

The case is being heard by a larger bench of five judges, led by CJ Athar Minallah. Justices Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb, and Babar Sattar are on the bench.

The CJ noted during the hearings, "We have  read your written response," before adding, "I did not expect what was expressed" against the justices of the lower court.

The judge said, "I was hoping that the error would have been admitted," expressing his dissatisfaction.

The judge said that "sensitive subjects" like "torture" and "enforced disappearances" have been brought up in court. In light of the gravity of contempt of court, he continued by stating that judges in high-profile cases "were exposed to criticism," particularly when Imran "questioned why the court was opened at midnight."

He responded, "It has been open to everyone since 2018."

A political party's leader has supporters; they should consider their words before speaking, he said. "For the past three years we have discussed the problem of torture without any fear."

If only they had raised their voices then as well, he said, "this court has been raising issues with the federal cabinet for three years."

Should a person of Imran Khan's status have done anything like this? He berated the PTI leader for not apologising for his remarks.

The judge said, "This court must maintain civilian supremacy," adding that "no one can sway this court or any judge. The judges on these [lower court] are more significant than those on the Supreme Court and high courts."

The judge said, "Change will occur when the constitution is supreme and civilian supremacy is protected.

Jahangir Jadoon, the Advocate General of Islamabad (AGI), started to make the case that PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry had also made statements critical of the court. Imran's attorney expressed his distancing from Fawad's remarks..

However, the court forbade the AGI from testifying, stating that "the subject is between the court and the one against whom the contempt was committed."

The judge blasted you for "registering sedition and terrorism charges" and said the "method should be examined."

Senior attorney Makhdoom Ali Khan, Muneer A. Malik, and a member of the Pakistan Bar Council were appointed by the IHC as amici curiae in the case.

As he called for another response from Imran and ordered the court to recess until September 8, CJ Minallah pleaded with the audience to recognise the seriousness of the situation.

Security measures are strict.

Journalists asked Imran, who arrived to the courthouse alone, if he would retract his comments, to which he replied, "I have given my response to the court."

In a casual interaction with the media, he added, "I wonder why there is so much dread," but Shah Mehmood Qureshi intervened to stop further inquiry.

According to police sources, a bomb squad has been called in to evacuate the courthouse, and everyone there has been told to leave before Imran arrives.

Babar Awan, the PTI leader, first resisted leaving the room.

Awan declared, "I won't leave the courthouse," when security agents halted Hamid Khan outside the building. Babar Awan and his son were finally denied entry to the courtroom since they were not included on the cause list, in contrast to Imran's legal team.

Also permitted entry into the courtroom were PTI leader Azam Swati, Advocate General Islamabad, Additional Attorney General, and Advocate General.

Only attorneys listed on the cause list will be permitted to enter the high court after security checks are completed, in accordance with the security directives provided by the government earlier today. The court is also surrounded by barbed wire.

Three superintendents of police (SP) and nine additional and deputy SPs are offering their services in the area of the high court, although SSP Operations Jameel Zafar has been given the major task for guaranteeing security outside the building.

Lest Imran's live addresses be prohibited, IHC suspends PEMRA notification

Additionally, at least a thousand junior rank officers and officials have been posted around the IHC, while the Security Division is responsible for providing security inside the court premises.

The security order also stated that Safe City cameras will be used to surveil the area and that all officers and personnel posted on the ground will be unarmed barring those that have been assigned rooftop duties.

Furthermore, 500 short-range and an additional 500 long-range armored vehicles have also been stationed carrying tear gas shells. Simultaneously, at least 3,000 shells and police vehicles are stationed in police lines.

Tensions nonetheless remained high in the IHC after the deposed premier Imran Khan on Tuesday (yesterday) responded to a show-cause notice issued to him by the court in a contempt case and offered to “take back” the controversial remarks he had made against district and sessions judge Zeba Chaudhry during a PTI rally at F-9 Park in Islamabad earlier this month.

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The PTI chief, in a provisional reply, had stated that due to “serious misunderstanding and misconception” he had misunderstood that Judge Zeba was not a judicial officer but an executive magistrate performing executive functions on the federal government's directions.

The reply, submitted through Imran’s counsel Hamid Khan, had regretted that a wrong impression was taken from the PTI chief’s speech that he had threatened the female judge for approving PTI leader Shahbaz Gill’s physical remand.

"Even otherwise, word ‘action’ used in the speech did not denote any ‘illegal/unlawful action’ against any person rather it was used for ‘legal’ and ‘lawful action’ which is right of every citizen of Pakistan,” the reply had stated.

Imran seeks dismissal of terrorism charges

Meanwhile, Imran Khan has sought the dismissal of terrorism charges leveled against him over the same speech.

Imran Khan had been booked in a terrorism case on the complaint of Islamabad Saddar Magistrate Ali Javed for threatening the additional sessions judge of the federal capital, Zeba Chaudhry.

Barrister Salman Safdar and Advocate Naeem Haider Panjotha appeared on behalf of Imran Khan as the PTI chief requested the court to declare the charges illegal.

A bench headed by IHC CJ Athar Minallah heard the case and issued notices to IG and DIG Police and the plaintiff magistrate and the relevant SHO seeking their response by September 8.

Tages.

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