IHC seeks more arguments on contempt plea against Imran

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Amir Farooq said on Friday that an independent forum would look into the matter of lost case file from the Judicial Complex during vandalism incident in February this year.

The matter is related to the chaos at the Judicial Complex during arrival of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for hearing of a case. Police had arrested dozens of people over vandalism on that day.

On March 1, a case was lodged against thousands of PTI men, including Imran Khan, for vandalism outside the judicial complex. Besides, Islamabad Assistant Commissioner Abdullah Khan also filed a contempt of court case against Imran.

While hearing the contempt petition of the assistant commissioner, Chief Justice Aamer Farooq sought more arguments on that matter after Special Prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbasi prayed to the court to serve notices on Imran Khan in contempt of court case.

Imran Khan's lawyer Khwaja Haris told the court that various cases were instituted against different people in the wake of the incident at the judicial complex. He added that a judicial case file was also lost on the said day which was a serious matter.

The chief justice agreed that the loss of file was a very serious matter, but noted that the cases were being heard at the different forums, and if a separate action was taken at the high court, those cases could be affected.

The chief justice asked the lawyer as to who could the beneficiary if the order sheet was lost and that who could investigate the matter. Khawaja Haris replied that a sessions judge could investigate the matter.

The lawyer informed the court that another lawyer had told him that the case file was given to a superintendent of police. The chief justice said that an independent forum would see where the file went and what happened.

Haris said that when Imran had come to the gate of the complex, the judge had ordered for marking his attendance in the court. The chief justice asked whether the prosecution objected that attendance could not be marked in such a way. Haris replied in negative.

Abbasi said that the place of hearing was also changed on Imran’s wishes. During the hearing, the chief justice stopped Abbasi from talking about politics, saying that Khawaja Haris did not raise anything political point.

He ordered the special prosecutor to apprise the court whether a court action was required in the matter of a lost file. He added that a new order sheet had been issued after the original one was lost.

The court remarked that a mistake made by the trial court that sent its staffer to mark Imran’s attendance. In a way, Abbasi replied, all the police officers were among court staff. However, the chief justice said that he would not send file to any police officer.

Abbasi said that this court had ordered the PTI's chairman that he would ensure the law and order situation. He requested the court to serve notices on Imran for violating the court order.

The chief justice remarked that there was an incident of the riot on but it was a question that who was responsible for it. He also said that the people could arrive to support their leader but whether there was proof of incitement of the people for vandalising.

Furthermore, the chief justice said, another important issue under consideration was Imran Khan's request for attending the court proceedings via a video link. He added that the issue had to be settled.

The court then asked the prosecution to assist the bench after viewing the report of the inspector general of police (IGP). The court sought more arguments on the petition and adjourned the hearing till next Friday.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)