IHC dismisses contempt plea against PM Imran

Says court neither fears nor is sensitive about criticism

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has dismissed a petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against Prime Minister Imran Khan for his recent remarks about the judiciary and said the judiciary does not fear criticism.

The petition, filed on Monday by Advocate Saleem Ullah Khan, contented that PM Imran’s November 18 speech was an attempt to malign the judiciary and therefore fell under the purview of contempt of court.

Imran Khan, apparently displeased with the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision to let incarcerated former PM Nawaz Sharif go abroad for his medical treatment without submitting indemnity bond, had appealed to Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and his successor to “restore” public’s trust in judiciary.

The remarks had not gone down well with the judiciary as the chief justice had made a scathing rejoinder to the speech advising Imran Khan not to “taunt the judiciary” in any way.

Later, a petition was filed against the speech in the IHC whose chief justice, Athar Minallah, on Tuesday issued a three-page verdict after hearing arguments of the petitioner.

While dismissing the petition, the order said Prime Minister Imran Khan had been elected to the highest executive public office by the people of Pakistan and his role in the 2007 “historic” lawyers’ movement for establishing the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution was indeed acknowledged.

It said the court did not see intent on part of the premier to undermine integrity of administration of justice. “The court is therefore satisfied that regardless of the selection of words, Mr Imran Khan could not have intended to undermine the integrity of the administration of justice…”

The order said the benefit of doubt must go in favour of the people of Pakistan.

“Even otherwise utmost restraint ought to be exercised in initiating contempt proceedings against an elected prime minister, which may inter alia, lead to disfranchising the people of Pakistan...,” it added

The judgment also said the courts do not fear criticism nor are sensitive about it. “Public confidence in the judicial system is the foundation of strong, effective and independent courts,” the court noted.