Imran faces contempt proceedings at IHC

PTI chief granted 3-day protective bail; directed to approach ATC till Aug 25

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday constituted a larger bench to initiate contempt of court proceedings against PTI Chairman and former premier Imran Khan for “threatening” Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during his speech in Islamabad on Saturday.

The high court’s decision comes after the IHC registrar sent a notice to Acting Chief Justice Aamer Farooq stating that the PTI chief had used “threatening language” in his speech against the female additional sessions judge.

On Saturday, Imran while addressing a rally at Islamabad’s F-9 park alleged that Judge Zeba Chaudhry knew that incarcerated party leader Shahbaz Gill was tortured, but she did not release him on bail. He had threatened to take action against the judge and the Islamabad IGP.

Imran was also booked in a terrorism case on the complaint of Islamabad Saddar Magistrate Ali Javed for threatening the judge.

The first information report (FIR), a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, was lodged with the Margalla police station at 10pm, Saturday. The FIR also carried Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The FIR was lodged hours before another Islamabad police station received a written complaint from a resident of G-11/2 for lodging a case against Imran over making hate-speeches, and inciting rebellion against the army, police and judiciary.

The FIR lodged by Margalla police said that the PTI chief threatened the additional sessions judge of Islamabad with a view to terrorise high officials of the police and the judiciary, so that they could not fulfil their duties and refrain from taking action against the PTI due to fear of Imran.

After consultations, the IHC judges on Monday unanimously decided to initiate contempt against Imran.

A three-member larger bench headed by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Babar Sattar will take up the case on Tuesday (today).

Imran granted protective bail

Earlier in the day, the IHC granted a three-day protective bail to the PTI Chairman in the case of “threatening” the female additional sessions judge and directed him to submit surety bonds worth Rs5,000 and approach the anti-terrorism court (ATC) till August 25.

A division bench of the IHC comprising Justice Kayani and Justice Sattar heard the PTI chairman’s bail plea along with the registrar’s objections.

Also read: IHC grants Imran pre-arrest bail till Aug 25 in terrorism case

Imran’s counsel Babar Awan contended that the judge of the ATC was on leave hence they had approached the IHC.

The court remarked that the petition had not been entertained till now as there was an objection of the registrar office on it.

The registrar office had said that Imran did not get his biometric done and questioned why did the PTI chief approached the high court instead of the ATC. It was further said that a verified copy of the terrorism case had not been provided.

Awan argued that Imran should be granted protective bail as he wanted to appear before the ATC, but his house was “surrounded by the police”.

He feared that the police would arrest Imran if he appeared in the court without a protective bail.

The PTI lawyer adopted the stance in the application that Imran neither had any criminal record in the past nor was he ever sentenced and that he was ready to present himself for investigation whenever the court ordered.

It was further said in the plea that Imran does not intend to escape or tamper the record of the prosecution.

Justice Kayani said that the court was granting the PTI chairman a three-day protective bail and that they should approach the ATC during this period.

SCBA welcomes the move

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Monday welcomed the Islamabad High Court's decision to initiate contempt proceedings against the PTI chairman.

SCBA President Ahsan Bhoon lambasted the way in which the name of female Additional Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Zeba Chaudhry was hurled publicly, saying it was not only offensive and derogatory but also undermined the dignity and prestige of the entire judicial system.

“His [Imran Khan’s] such conduct also exposed how much he cares about the respect and reverence of honourable Judges. Being the apex bar of the country, this association cannot turn a blind eye towards such malicious acts, which undermine the dignity, decorum and prestige of our judiciary. Time and again, this association has maintained that everyone is free to express his/her disagreement with judgement but no one is free to harm the respect and dignity of Judges.”

The SCBA president added, “Let no one be mistaken that SCBAP in particular and the entire legal fraternity in general, will not allow anyone to sabotage the dignity and repute of our institutions, especially judiciary, come what may”.

He also demanded strict action against those found involved in such contemptuous act with an “iron fist”, so that no one dares to indulge in such malicious act, ever again.

Coalition parties want Imran penalised

The coalition parties of the incumbent government had earlier urged the superior judiciary to take immediate notice of former premier’s threat to the female magistrate.

“Take legal action against Imran Khan and his colleagues for interfering in the affairs of the interior minister and threatening the officers and government staff who are performing their duties according to the law,” a joint statement said on Saturday.

“These threats are blatant bullying and lawlessness. Imran is the chairman of a traitorous foreign-aided party and a recipient of foreign funding, who has plotted a coup in Pakistan Army.”