Islamabad: Following to the controversial remarks by the PTI Chairman Imregarding female sessions court judge Zeba Chaudhry, Islamabad High Court (IHC) decided to initiate contempt proceedings against Imran Khan.

This  decision was taken by Acting IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq during hearing of a petition filed by PTI challenging incarcerated party member Shahbaz Gill’s police remand. At a rally in Islamabad’s F-9 park on Saturday, Imran had threatened to file cases against Islamabad’s inspector general of police and deputy inspector general of police and declared: “We won’t spare you.”

He then warned judiciary against its “biased” attitude towards his party, saying that it should brace itself for consequences. PTI Chairman also warned additional district and sessions judge Zeba Chaudhry, who had approved two-day physical remand of Imran’s aide Shahbaz Gill’s on request of capital police, that she would also face dire consequences. During hearing yesterday, Islamabad Advocate General Jahangir Khan Jadoon raised matter in court and urged judges to take notice of Imran’s comments. However, they replied, “That is a separate matter. We will see what will be done on it.” Later in day, after consultation with other judges, court decided to issue a contempt notice to Imran. A larger bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb will hear case which is expected to be take up today. Court’s notice comes a day after Imran was booked under Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act (punishment for acts of terrorism) regarding his comments at his Islamabad rally. First Information Report registered against PTI chief, registered at Margalla Police Station, Imran had “terrorised and threatened top police officials and a respected female additional sessions judge” in his address. FIR also requested that legal action be pursued against Imran and an “exemplary punishment” be meted out. Supreme Court Bar Association in a statement later, welcomed IHC’s decision saying that way in which female additional session judge’s name was hurled publicly was not only offensive and derogatory but also “undermined dignity and prestige of entire judicial system”. “His [Imran’s] such conduct also exposed how much he cares about respect and reverence of honourable judges.” Statement read that apex bar of country could not turn a blind eye towards such malicious acts, which undermine prestige of judiciary.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 23 2022

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