The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday issued a show-cause notice to former PM and PTI Chairman Imran Khan, summoning him in personal capacity on August 31 in contempt of court proceedings against him for his controversial remarks about Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry.
The notice was issued by a 3-member bench headed by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani comprising Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb.
The IHC took the decision to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the PTI chief by Islamabad High Court Acting Chief Justice Amir Farooq during the petition hearing challenging Gill’s police remand. A bench was formed.
During today’s hearing, Advocate General of Islamabad Jahangir Khan Jadoon informed the court that he had filed a separate application for permission to bring on controversial record statements of Imran Khan against state institutions.
The court asked him when Imran made the “objectionable remarks”, to which Jadoon replied that the PTI chief had made the comments during a rally at Islamabad’s F-9 Park on Saturday.
Referring to the former Prime Minister, the Advocate General said, “Imran Khan said, ‘Zeba Sahiba, you should be ashamed, we will take action against you too’.”
He said that Imran Khan is repeatedly making controversial statements about the judiciary and the Election Commission of Pakistan and is obstructing the path of justice.
Asked which case the remarks were related to, Jadoon said they were in connection with the case filed against Gill.
Imran Khan is constantly giving statements against institutions. Any party should now stop making statements against institutions. The Advocate General argued that Imran Khan tried to destroy the public’s trust in the judiciary.
At one point, Justice Kayani asked how one can give remarks in the case which is under hearing. Then, addressing the Advocate General, he added: “This matter has nothing to do with you. It is between Imran Khan and the court.
“An attempt was made to disrespect our judiciary. If this is the environment to be created, there will be no work in the country. If the courts, which are the hope of the people, abandon their work, how will things go? Justice Kayani said.
He further remarked that if the court’s decision is not in favor of anyone, will they start making statements against the court? Do they want people to do justice as they see fit?
The judge questioned how a former prime minister could issue such statements. He expressed regret that a controversial statement was made regarding a woman judge and her name was taken.
The court asked the Advocate General that a notice should be issued to Imran or a show cause notice? The Advocate General replied that a show cause notice should be issued primarily.
During the hearing, Justice Kayani said that some people think they can get away with saying whatever they want. He asked how the country will run if the state institutions stop working.
He said that some people have crippled the state.
Later, the court issued a show cause notice to Imran and sent the case to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial to constitute a bench of more than three judges.
