‘Misunderstood woman judge as magistrate working under govt’s directions’, Imran tells IHC

In response to a show-cause notice, former PM regrets ‘wrong impression’ was taken from his speech

ISLAMABAD:

Former prime minister Imran Khan has told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that due to “serious misunderstanding and misconception” he misunderstood that female Judge Zeba Chaudhry was not a judicial officer but an executive magistrate performing executive functions on the federal government's directions.

He said this in a written response to a show-cause notice issued to him by the IHC over his controversial remarks against the additional sessions judge.

He also regretted that a wrong impression was taken from his speech in which he had threatened to take action legal action against the judge for approving PTI leader Shahbaz Gill physical remand.

The former premier went on to say that the IHC has always shown restraint in such matters and allowed free speech.

The IHC last week issued a show-cause notice to the PTI chairman in contempt of court case over his remarks against the female judge and asked him to appear personally before the bench on August 31.

The court had issued a three-page written order and sent a notice to the attorney general for Pakistan for assistance in the case.

Imran’s controversial remarks against the judge were also made part of the written order.

Also read: IHC summons Imran on Aug 31 in contempt case

“Magistrate Zeba sahiba, you should get ready. We will also take action against you. All of you should be ashamed of yourselves,” the IHC written order quoted Imran as saying.

Earlier this month, 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 and DIG.

The former premier was booked in a terrorism case on the complaint of Islamabad Saddar Magistrate Ali Javed for threatening the additional sessions judge.

The first information report (FIR) was lodged with the Margalla police station at 10pm. The FIR also carried Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.