Imran moves SC to defer contempt case proceedings

Lawyer maintains Imran admitted to hospital; not possible to submit a reply on the matter

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday filed a petition in the Supreme Court to defer the proceedings in the contempt of court case.

The deposed prime minister’s lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, filed an application in the contempt of court case after the PTI chief, on November 3, sustained a bullet wound to his leg as he led the party's ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’ in Wazirabad.

In the application, Raja maintained that his client [Imran Khan] is admitted to the hospital due to the “unfortunate incident” and that it is not possible to submit a reply on the matter.

“It is requested that the case not be fixed for hearing at the moment,” the lawyer requested.

It is pertinent to note the apex court had asked the PTI chief to submit an answer and had said that the date of the next hearing will then be set.

Read: SC refuses to initiate contempt proceedings against Imran over May 25 order

The order to the former prime minister was given after the top court, on November 2, observed that its orders on May 25 this year, wherein the PTI’s previous long march was restricted from entering Islamabad’s D-Chowk, was “misused”.

A five-member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, continued hearing a contempt petition against PTI Chairman and former premier Imran Khan.

The bench sought a detailed reply from the PTI chief over the violation of the May 25 order.

During the hearing, CJP Bandial noted that the court had moved carefully in this case. “Even now we are exercising great restraint,” he added. The chief justice further remarked that the judges did not want their pen to be “misused”.

The bench also expressed its disappointment over two PTI lawyers, Dr Babar Awan and Chaudhry Faisal Hussain, for violating the court’s trust about the May 25 order.

Also read: Imran Khan’s political fortunes hinge on top court

During an earlier hearing, in his reply to the SC over the contempt of court plea, the former prime minister had maintained that he was unaware of any statement or undertaking submitted to the court on behalf of the “senior leadership” of his party ahead of the May 25 march.

Imran had submitted his reply after the apex court had directed him to present a written response after examining reports filed by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

May 25 order

The apex court had issued clear instructions to the PTI to hold its Azadi March protest near Peshawar Mor between the H-9 and G-9 areas of Islamabad.

However, Imran and his protesters made their way toward D-Chowk, prompting the government to call in the army for the security of the federal capital’s Red Zone.