Contempt case: IHC to indict Imran Khan on September 22

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday has decided to indict Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on September 22, in contempt of court case, for his controversial remarks about a female judge during a public rally in Islamabad on August 20.

Earlier today, the court reserved its judgment on the contempt of court case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

As per details, a five-member larger bench heard the contempt of court case against the former premier.

The bench is headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah and comprises Just­ice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, and Justice Babar Sattar.

PTI chief appeared before the court amid heightened security.

At the beginning of the hearing, IHC Chief Justice Minallah said that Imran Khan faces the charge of criminal contempt of court which is a more serious offense than other types of contempt of court.

Imran Khan’s counsel Hamid Khan pleaded with the court that the case be dismissed.

While presenting his arguments before the court, Hamid Khan, Imran Khan’s lawyer, said, “We have submitted our written reply to the court. We want the court to end the contempt proceedings. In the previous hearing, Imran Khan was directed to submit another reply which we complied.”

At this, the court directed Hamid Khan to read a Supreme Court decision. “We are bound by the decisions of the Supreme Court,” IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked.

“We are grateful to the court for giving this opportunity to us. The court directed to read Talal Chaudhry and Daniyal Aziz cases. [But] Both these cases are completely different from that of Imran Khan,” Hamid Khan said.

“There are judicial, civil and criminal contempt of court. We have not initiated contempt proceedings for scandalising the court. The criminal contempt of court is of a very serious nature,” Justice Athar Minallah said.

“We had explained to you that this is criminal contempt of court. We had advised you to submit your answer after careful consideration. Your answer was final, and we have read it thoroughly,” he added.

“We had explained to you that this is criminal contempt of court, but you did not care. Can a former prime minister justify that he did not know the law?” Justice Athar Minallah questioned.

The top judge of the Islamabad High Court questioned whether a former prime minister can claim that he was not aware of the law.

Justice Minallah said that in his reply Imran Khan had tried to justify his action.

He asked Hamid Khan if Imran Khan wanted a trial in the contempt case.

Justice Sattar said that Imran Khan justified his controversial speech at the Islamabad rally in another speech he delivered later.

Imran Khan is constantly trying to justify what he said, observed Justice Sattar.

The justice said that Imran Khan’s reply leaves the impression that he was demanding a trial in the contempt case and wanted to prove his stance.

After conclusion of the arguments, the court reserved the judgment on contempt of court case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

Earlier in the day, Imran Khan submitted a miscellaneous application in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) asking it to allow him file written arguments in contempt of court case. 

The new application was submitted on Thursday, hours before the IHC was due to take up the contempt case.

In the new application, Imran Khan has maintained that the high court does not have suo motu authority and it cannot exercise this jurisdiction as per the Constitution.

The PTI chief urged the court to keep the arguments on record if the contempt of court case is inadmissible. 

The petition also states that the written arguments in the hearing will also be explained during court proceedings.