PTI Chairman Imran Khan. PHOTO: AFP
The bench was headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprised of Justice Jawwad S Khwaja and Justice Azmat Saaed.
Imran's lawyer arrived from the US last night, therefore a brief verbal response was delivered. The court expressed dissatisfaction over the verbal reply and adjourned the hearing till 11:30am (today) for a better, written response.
Imran and his lawyer were in court before the allotted time with the written two-paragraph reply.
In his reply he stated that he did not use the word “shameful” for the judiciary, rather for the presiding officer in the election process.
“Can such words be used for the judiciary?” asked Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had earlier asked during the hearing.
CJ Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry added that since Imran is a leader and public figure, such words and statements are not expected from him.
Lawyer Hamid Khan said Imran had complaints regarding the Election Commission of Pakistan however Imran holds no disrespect for the court or the judiciary.
Imran stated that he and the party strongly support the judiciary and had worked hard during the movement for restoration of the judiciary.
"The restoration of the judiciary had been on my agenda. I had also spent eight days in jail for that", said Imran in court.
The court deemed the replies as inadequate. The words allegedly used for the judiciary can be punishable by law according to the court’s decision at the end of the hearing.
The court has allotted Imran time till August 28 to submit a written, detailed response.
Briefing after hearing
Imran addressed the media after the contempt of court hearing and said, "My disappointment and criticism was aimed towards the presiding officer for the elections."
Addressing questions of an apology, Imran said “If there is no contempt, what should I be apologizing for?”
Imran stated that he respected the judiciary and would soon bring forward a white-paper as evidence to show that rigging took place in the election process.
"I have not done or said anything that is punishable by law, my statements were made in the interest of democracy in Pakistan", he added.
Imran Khan had vowed on Thursday that he would stand by his stance, even if it meant he is sentenced and disqualified from being elected into the assemblies. The PTI chief asked if a citizen of Pakistan had the right to seek justice from the Supreme Court over the alleged rigging during the May 11, 2013 elections.
“If this is contempt, then I do not think they know the meaning of contempt.”
COMMENTS (64)
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Worth a read:
"Just apologize, Mr. Khan" http://thepakistanlawyer.blogspot.com/2013/08/just-apologize-mr-khan.html
@Usman: Annoying you was he last thing on my mind when I put that comment / question there for you----my sincere apologies-----I never intend offending when I allow myself the liberty of putting down my views. Again, sorry!
Now, listen, when someone, anyone, is summoned to appear before a court with the specific instruction to be personally there or have a representative and if his lawyer appears there for him , it's perfectly legitimate and just as good as being there. When someone who is suspected of contempting a court, and the highest one in this case, and if he appears there personally, s/he has not enhanced the court by doing this by any stretch of imagination. In Imran Khan's case, his appearing there personally or otherwise becomes irrelevant, even for cosmetic value, by his preemptive posturing just one evening pre-appearance in a TV programme, with Express and Javed Chaudhry. If his press conference was slightly veiled contempt and thus, perhaps, open to debate, his this interview with Chaudhry confirmed his contempt by his extremely contemptuous posturing. Not that I personally care about IK's stand or CJ's reputation, for me they both are egomaniacs of highest order and victims of the malady we can call hubris and narcissism and, with this speed, would destroy themselves sooner than any of us can even guess.
Sir,
It is a great irony that today the SC is using Musharaff's law to protect its sanctity and integrity. Just goes to prove that Musharaff wasn't all bad.
The judiciary and Imran Khan have been figthing against corruption, it's unfortunate that people and institutes against corruption are involved in this internecine and useless controversy while the corrupt have field day, transferring their looted wealth to their homes baorad
Ayla Malik, asad umar, pervez khattak...it's time to clean the house of no good burden, give old, sincere and serious workers their rightful position and focus on national issues Mr. Imran Khan if you want people like me to vote you next time
@Uza Syed: How many times have you seen gillani appearing himself or other hifi politicains unless they really really had to! Everyone sends their lawyer to represent them! and that comment was more to ppl who had been putting insane statuses - Not that i m totally an IK fan - but that kinda annoyed me!
The balloon of Tsunama is getting burst!
You guys failed to notice the main story: ---- IK diverted the media attention from DIKHAN JAIL break & AILA MALIK fake degree judgement. ANDHE KO ANDHERE ME BARI DOOR KI SOOJHI
@Usman: If he commits a crime against the Supreme Court and is ordered to be there to explain himself then who else should have been there, I pray?
Imran Khan chickened out the same way as he did when Molana diesel accused him of ahmadi support. He doesnot have guts to stand up for any principle. He is darpook and lacks courage to stand up for minorities. He is too afraid of TTP. He is a loser.
*It's very shameful for Imran Khan to say shameful judiciary *
@Saima: Do you have any proof IK is an honest leader? What has he done for the country so far except useless talking and misleading the people with unrealistic goals. Don't throw your mud on other people if you don't have facts to prove yourself.
Zardari wants to malign the Supreme Court before he get outs of Presidency and Imran Khan and his followers are doing exactly that. IK is being played by run away PPP jialas in his party. IK is Zardari's B team right now
IK definetly lost his mind after the fell off !!!! rather than focusing on straightening affairs of government in KPK he is meddling here !!!!
Over 13000 cases are pending in SC alone,, but SC is free enough to take notice of a non issue. Respect is not asked ,,, it is earned.
@Kami: This shows how much knowledge our people have of the judicial system. 1st Hamid Khan came up with a 2 para reply. SC asked them to submit a proper reply by 11:30, at 11:30 they just added to it & submitted a 1 page reply. SC then adjourned the case till 28th to submit a proper reply explaining everything in detail.
@FactCheck:
People respect law and order if it is applied across the board to rich and poor with out any discrimination.....Nawaz and Imran both came to assemblies in violation of article 62 and SC-CJ kept his silence because of his son corruption issue....on the other hand a poor person gets convicted and jailed for stealing a cycle but no action action against those who stole the whole country.
Let us be very clear
This is very less what SC-CJ has tasted in future people might ask him to be tried for treason.
PTI trolls have to write something in the honour of their Lifetime Chairman, regardless of whether he makes sense or not! Thanks God that Pakistan remains safe from these mindless trolls.
IF Last Election had a biggest Rigging in the History THEN KPK Government should resign as a protest ELSE Do not waste our precious time on bogus issue... and talk about public issues....
@cyrus:
The real question is, did IK slander, or lie about CJ’s son then, prosecute him for slander. If IK said the truth about CJ’s son, it is truth.
Doesn’t Pakistan have problems with corruption in high places for peddling influence?
Shouldn’t someone speak the truth about it?
Should someone be punished for telling what is known to everyone?
Would anyone corrupt money to this person if he wasn’t CJ’s son?
For what purpose the money was given?
Shouldn’t the CJ order an investigation of his son by an independent party (don’t know where you would find one)/
Imran backed down. He hijacked the issue with the presidential election, and today made it dead. In the court, he complains about ROs, instead of focusing on the conduct of SC. He successfully diverted the attention to a totally unrelated topic. All the ills of the SC and CJ will come out cleaned out of this episode. Wah imran wah.
Being the son of this land I will request IK n CJ not allow individual ego in sparking another issue which would be like playing in the hands of enemies of our national peace n unity. IK knows no matter how much he believe in democracy, individual rights etc etc he must come into senses n respect law of the land n Judges. On the other side it would be wise not to be sensitive if some one raise his or her voice against protectors of laws. No one is God, no one can be always right n some time ignoring young ones mistake or miscalculations doesn't mean being feeling insulted. Rest we all hope this matter could be put in back burner, we have millions other national issues.
I do not understand why Imran is lieing. Ofcourse he said that the Judiciary is corrupt what else did he mean? Why is he back-tracking now?
Why is he saying i meant the HC and not the SC? We all know what he meant, every person knows what he meant. He is playing about with words.
I would have had more respect for him if he said, "yes sir i think you are corrupt and i will not apologise" But then again who wants to spend time in jail?
Imran is playing with words.
While we wait for that August 28, to arrive and decide whether or not IK called both the EEC and the judiciary 'sharamnaak' or shameless. In the meantime can we hear Imran Khan's views on the shameless barabarians Taliban's 'sharamnaak' attacking and breaking down the jail in Dera Ismail Khan (under the government of PTI!). Does Mr Khan think that Talibans are shameless folks behaving in 'sharamnaak' ways?
IK, It is almost 60 days since you got elected. What have you achived so far? Situation in KP is getting worse, you took a trip to UK to meet Prince Charles, you have entangled yourself in a legal battle with SC and you have made remarks about everyone elses work. You are quick to judge the performance of NS and SS, but you have not taken any note of Khattak's failure in KP. You have failed to make any effort to fulfil your promises to eradicate corruption, load shedding ,etc in 90 days and you have not even visit Rawalpindi, whose people you represent. So far you have only been acting like a stubborn child kicking and screaming for not becoming PM. So glad I saw the real IK before the elections and did not vote for you. You proved me right!
You guys can now wait for August 28 in the year 9999-----this is an example of 'sharamnaak Muk muka'!
I think our CJ with age is acting like an egoistic teenager. Their actions are no less dictatorial that he once stood against.
Can I file contempt of democracy against CJ and top judges in a martial court and summon them too?
I guess we might all be summoned to court for commenting and voicing our opinion. Sorry CJ. Candy?
This should not be a question of who has the bigger ego ? This is a question of who is the bigger person here and the obvious answer is the CJ and having establised that the CJ must act accordingly..............otherwise its a win-win situation for IK.
The Supreme Court has become highly controversial. In fact it has been for a long time. Some semblance of credibility can come about if Arsalan Ifthikar is held accountable.
Respect is not demanded but earned........Iftikhar is loosing his respect and and he has started demanding it!!!!!! We all understood Imran's reply and his position.......Whether he is given 3 weeks or 3 years his position is not going to change and ultimately CJ has to decide whether he wants himself to degrade further or not? In fact these 3 weeks are more important for CJ to determine if he will ruin himself further or salvage some of his credibility.
@piddler: And don't dare to vote him in next election he needs patriotic pakistani to vote him
those dig graves for other often fall themselves. PTI wanted Altaf Bhai in courts by August, The almighty his disposed their conspiracy and now instead Imran Khan facing imprisonment and disqualification. i hope our media will also have extensive debates on the successor of Mr Imran Khan, as they did with Altaf Bhai.
Shame on PTI for insulting judiciary. Just one contempt notice and it has lost its temper. This is a beginning, harder days and sleepless nights are coming ahead.
@piddler: Indeed, I hope nawaz sharif is sufficient for you. The Lord only helps those who help themselves.
if imran khan statement on judiciary is important compare to common person ...thn imran khan days in jail fr judiciary is also important compare to common ppl
“If this is contempt, then I do not think they know the meaning of contempt.”
Awsome.
I pray this Contempt of Court, converts into Contempt of Country, as CJ being Up-right person accepts the IK plea of Massively Rigged Polls on 5/11, impacting Pk more than what 9/11 did to USA, and Orders fresh polling where ever demanded by PTI, or in whole of Pakistan. Ameen.
It is convenient for Imran to become a political martyr instead of solving the governance problems of KPK.
Haha! Its funny! The same people who supported CJ are now against him! Soon another Hero will arrive, the self same people will be against Immi!
Its a matter of law, not personal opinion. ;)
Come what may, PTI Zindabad, IK Zindabad.
Cheef Sb, you're always so fast to take suo motto action but you never give the final verdict. Instead of wasting time on this case you could have listened to the other cases still pending at the SC.
@M.S: The PTI fans don't come here to read the news but rather comment on it.
And then they Blame Gen. Musharraf..
@Usman: But what does that signify?
"The PTI chief asked if a citizen of Pakistan had the right to seek justice from the Supreme Court over the alleged rigging during the May 11, 2013 elections." Somebody should tell Khan sahib that there is a difference between seeking justice and throwing garbage at Judiciary of Pakistan.
@AGK: hahahaha True that.
Too bad too many politicians get so frustrated during elections that they loose senses to find appropriate words to address respectable officials; this ‘contempt of court’ may straighten out some crooked tongues.
Mr. Imran Khan this is no time to stand against judiciary. We elected your party to fight for militancy, corruption and for other big problems. you are disappointing us. very sad.
*PROTECTOR OF STATUS QUO IN ACTION* IK Waiting for your call.
@Khan: John Kerry is also in Islamabad.
@Lahori: CJ is no more credible after his son being guilty of corruption. This is what IK said in his TV interview last night and you picked it from there. This is the poison IK is spreading against the state institution and this is exactly what he should be punished for.
Dear Readers,
At least read the news properly before pouncing on the Comments section. The news states, IK has to submit a a brief written reply by 11:30am today.
If that reply too is deemed insufficient to the Court, then his Lawyers will be given 3 Weeks to submit their final reply!
Those people confused up here about the time, at-least read and understanding before commenting.
Read the last line, and you'll understand there might be two written responses, one today and one in three weeks if today's one is not adequate.
Imran Khan is a great leader. CJ should withdraw this case for the betterment of Pakistan.
Its not Imran Khan who returned from US last night: his lawyer and party member Hamid Khan returned from US last night: ET seems to be in hurry: Sab se tez motto do not work everywhere ;-)
Why Cheif Justice did not took notice of contempt of court on Faisal Raza Abdi and other using derogatory language against Ch. Iftekhar but CJ is very quick to take action against IK. CJ is no more credible after his son being guilty in corruption.
Cornered Tiger.....don't worry. The troika of US, CJ and Nawaz Sharif can't harm you. The Nation and Allah is wth you!
I spend one hour in traffic jam due to Imran's appearance in SC !!
Insufficient : preciously the reason I did not vote for imran
3 weeks time to respond or respond by 11:30 ... its so confusing ....
IK preparing to follow many illustrious forerunners to capitulate and beg forgiveness in a round about way ? If so good for the country
First the news items says The court has asked to submit a written response by 11:30am (today) while in the ending allotted Imran’s lawyer, Hamid Khan three weeks time to submit a detailed written response. Kya yeh khulla tazaad nahi?
So for all the haters - IK himself went to the court. Cheers