IHC acquits Imran Khan in contempt of court case
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday acquitted PTI supremo Imran Khan in contempt of court case for threatening additional and sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry at a public rally in Islamabad.
A larger bench, headed by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri heard the Imran’s contempt case.
PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan reached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to appear before the court in contempt of court case.
Chief Justice Islamabad High Court (IHC) Athar Minallah, while discharging the suo moto notice of contempt of court against Imran Khan, remarked that, “they have seen the affidavit of Imran Khan and they are satisfied with Imran Khan’s conduct.”
“Imran Khan proved his good intentions and went to the female judge to apologise,” CJ IHC added.
Today’s hearing took place a day after the Islamabad High Court granted pre-arrest bail following the issuance of an arrest warrant for Imran Khan in connection with the contempt case.
On October 1, the former prime minister submitted an affidavit in the Islamabad High Court in which he did not seek an unconditional apology from the court, but he said that “as the PTI Chairman for the past 26 years, I have respected the rule of law and the judiciary and fighting for freedom and unlike other political leaders, I always talked about the rule of law in every public gathering.”
Following the Islamabad High Court’s decision to acquit Imran Khan in contempt of court case, PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz said that “fitna” has been forgiven.
“The contempt was committed and in front of the entire world. So instead of saying that the case has been dismissed, it would be more appropriate to say that fitna has been forgiven,” Maryam wrote on Twitter.
Earlier On September 22, PTI Chief Imran Khan formally apologised Islamabad High Court (IHC) in contempt of court case for threatening additional and session judge Zeba Chaudhary saying, “I apologised court if I crossed the line.”
Chairman PTI Imran Khan appeared in the court where he agreed to apologised the female judge Zeba Chaudhry.
“I apologise if I crossed any line. It won’t happen again,” Khan said.
After Imran Khan’s formal apology Islamabad High Court (IHC) stopped the proceeding to indict Imran Khan.
The Islamabad High Court remarked that Imran Khan should submit an affidavit within a week.
“It will be your personal decision to go to the female judge, but if you realised the mistake and ready to apologise, that is enough,” IHC CJ said.
CJ IHC Athar Minallah said that the court will record Imran’s statement.
Imran Khan inquired that apart from written statement, is there any option to satisfy the court? On which Chief Justice Athar Minallah replied with a clear ‘No’.
The Islamabad High Court adjourned the hearing till October 3.
Later, PTI Chairman reached Additional and session Judge Zeba Chaudhry’s court room to apologised her in contempt of court case but she was on leave today.
Background of the case:
The PTI chairman Imran Khan had staged a rally in the federal capital on August 20 to express solidarity with his chief of staff Shahbaz Gill after claims of torture inflicted on him in custody. He warned the Islamabad inspector-general and deputy inspector-general that he would “not spare” them, vowing to file cases against them for subjecting Gill to alleged inhuman torture.
Turning his guns towards the additional sessions judge Zeba Chaudhry, who sent Gill into physical remand on the police’s request, Khan then said she [the judge] should brace herself for consequences.
