LHC dismisses pleas seeking contempt proceedings against Imran

Petitioners accuse PTI chief of making 'contemptuous remarks' and 'scandalising' SC judges

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday dismissed different petitions seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan over his "contemptuous remarks" and for "scandalising" the Supreme Court judges.

The LHC Registrar's Office had earlier raised an objection on the pleas as the alleged contemptuous remarks were about the superior court’s judges and questioned how the high court could hear these petitions.

However, the pleas were fixed as objection petitions before Justice Shujaat Ali Khan who heard them in the court today.

During the hearing, the petitioners' counsels claimed that a proper campaign was launched after a ruling of the then National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri had been set aside by the SC.

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They further argued that a pre-planned attack was designed at the judicial complex in Islamabad last week during Imran's appearance in multiple cases and that the PTI chief was the mastermind behind the conspiracy.

"At Imran's court proceedings, a crowd is taken to the courts and state properties are damaged to put pressure on the judiciary to get favourable decisions," they added.

However, Justice Shujaat remarked that prima facie, Imran's remarks are about the apex court's judges. He questioned the maintainability of the pleas and how they could be heard in the LHC.

The petitioners' counsels requested the court to initiate contempt proceedings against Imran but Justice Shujaat dismissed the pleas as non-maintainable and directed the petitioners to "approach the relevant forum".