In contempt: Court seeks video footage of Imran Khan’s press conference

PHC told PTI chief made no threats against doctors

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday sought video footage of a press conference addressed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan in which he had allegedly made threatening and derogatory remarks against doctors in a sub judice matter. The PTI chief was issued a contempt of court notice on November 5, 2015 for his remarks.

When the hearing commenced on Thursday, the division bench of Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Younis Taheem was informed a case was pending before the PHC over the Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act 2015. While the case was in progress, Imran addressed a press conference against the doctors who challenged the act. Barrister Waqar, the counsel representing Imran, argued the PTI chief filed a reply in court about his remarks at the press conference. The PTI chief admitted he was not aware the case was pending before the court.

“Imran just threatened to hold a sit-in against doctors who were protesting against reforms in hospitals,” he argued.

The chief justice remarked the bench would review the reply filed by the respondent, but asked for video footage of the press conference to determine the exact words used by Imran. The bench adjourned the case till the next hearing.

Imran Khan was served a contempt of court notice after he allegedly hurled threats against doctors who challenged MTI 2015 and obtained a stay order against the legislation. A division bench of justices Waqar Ahmad Seth and Younis Taheem on November 5, 2015, issued a contempt notice to the PTI chief and ordered him to file a reply explaining his statements on a sub judice matter.

The PTI chairman said he visited Peshawar to tell the protesting doctors he would continue the fight against them to the very end and eliminate corruption. He threatened to expose the doctors by publishing their names in newspapers and also threatened to hold a sit-in.

The MTI Act was challenged by the teachers association of the Khyber Medical College through its president Dr Qaiser Inayat. He was joined by the K-P Paramedics Association.The petitioners’ lawyers argued that instead of threatening and defaming doctors publically, the PTI government should defend the case in court.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2016.