Contempt case: Court rejects application seeking Imran’s arrest

Islamabad: A District and Sessions Court Islamabad Monday rejected the plea of the prosecutor to issue the arrest warrant for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan over his controversial remarks against a female judge.

Senior Civil Judge Mujahid Rahim heard the case of threatening Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry against Imran Khan, but once again Imran Khan did not appear in court.

Imran Khan's counsel Naeem Panjotha presented Imran Khan's medical report dated February 8 in the court, and took the stand that Khan cannot climb the stairs, adding that “Doctors have advised him to rest”. He requested the court to exempt his client from attendance.

Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi raised the objection that Imran Khan is not appearing in the court presenting the medical report of Shaukat Khanum Hospital that he owns.

He stated, “If he cannot climb the stairs up the court room, at least come outside the court, his presence will be counted,” adding that the fact is he does not want to appear and the court should cancel his bail bonds and issue arrest warrants.

Senior Civil Judge Mujahid Rahim, after hearing the arguments of the lawyers, exempted Imran Khan from attendance for today on medical grounds, and adjourned the hearing of the case till March 9.

Contempt of Court Case

While addressing a rally at Islamabad's F-9 park, Imran Khan alleged that Judge Zeba Chaudhry knew that incarcerated party leader Shahbaz Gill was tortured, but she did not release him on bail.

Khan had then said she [the judge] should brace herself for 'consequences'.

The PTI leader also threatened to take action against the Islamabad IG and DIG police.