IHC wants to know whether Imran trusts courts

Seeks reply from PTI chairman till May 12 in blasphemy case

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Monday sought a response from PTI Chairman and former premier Imran Khan whether he “reposes trust in the court to proceed with the petitions in hand” till May 12 (Thursday).

The orders came as CJ Minallah was supposed to hear the petition filed by former information minister Fawad Chaudhry challenging the registration of blasphemy cases against the PTI leadership.

However, the IHC CJ refused to conduct the hearing, saying that Advocate Faisal Chaudhry must first ask the party leadership whether they trusted the court.

“The narrative that the Supreme Court and the high courts are compromised is still being spread," CJ Minallah observed.
"This court can work for 24 hours a day," he said, asking if the petitioner had any objection with the court that the court may look into.

Justice Minallah criticised the rhetoric of the ousted government, reminding that it was the same court that provided relief to the PTI at 11pm during the 2014 sit-in.

“This court in the case titled ‘The State vs Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan’ has highlighted the legal provisions and duty of a court to allow access to any aggrieved person to file a petition of an urgent nature at any time. It was pursuant to this duty that a constitutional petition was allowed late at night and several workers of the PTI arrested in FIR No 330, dated 12-09-2014, were ordered to be released.

“It is only in exceptional circumstances that petitions are entertained and appropriate orders are passed even after the notified timings of the court. Nonetheless, neither the august Supreme Court nor this court had held any proceedings nor orders were passed in the evening of April 9, 2022.”

The court said that notwithstanding that no proceedings had caused any prejudice to the petitioners or the leadership of PTI, it was of utmost importance that they “have trust and confidence in the independence and impartiality of the court”.

Read Imran distances himself from Masjid-e-Nabwi incident

“If you have the slightest doubt that the high court and the Supreme Court were compromised, let me know,” the high court justice reiterated.

The chief justice also questioned the "irresponsible reporting", saying that “some analysts created an atmosphere that a martial law was imminent.”

He further censured the PTI for flaming doubts on the country's institutions when Imran questioned courts opening at night
On the IHC CJ's remarks, PTI counsel Faisal Chaudhry said that he would again ask the petitioner if they wanted to withdraw the petition from the IHC.

CJ Minallah said the PTI did not have confidence in the courts and had been telling the public that the courts had been compromised.

In efforts to prompt a response, the CJ stated, “Imran Khan is constantly questioning the court, do Imran Khan and PTI not trust the court?”

Advocate Faisal stated that he had confidence in the high court and urged the judge to hear the case.

CJ Minallah expressed his disappointment with the party’s comments, stating, “it is unfortunate that a political leader stands in a meeting and tells workers that the courts have been compromised.”

The IHC CJ stated that the court respected the leaders of all the democratic parties. However, the PTI had accused him of owning an apartment in Manchester, adding that Honorable Justice Mansoor Ali Shah was also not spared.

The IHC directed counsel Faisal to take instructions and inform the court whether PTI chairman Imran had confidence in them, otherwise the case would be sent to a different bench.

The IHC also extended the protective bail of PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Shahbaz Gilll till May 12.

Furthermore, the court issued notices to the parties, including the interior ministry and the Islamabad IG to submit their replies by May 12.