A three-member bench of Islamabad High Court comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb and Justice Babar Sattar today issued a show cause notice to PTI chief and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in contempt of court case. The show cause notice has been issued to the former PM for his remarks against Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry in the backdrop of Shahbaz Gill’s case.
According to the IHC show cause notice, former PM Khan tried to influence the proceedings of the court.
“Mr. Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, Chairman Pakistan Tareek-e-Insaf, while addressing a public rally passed certain remarks against the learned Additional District & Sessions Judge, working under administrative control of this Court.” Reads the show cause notice.
IHC further added that, “Delivery of such remarks from the leader of a big Political Party which tends to obstruct administration of justice and erode public confidence as well as ability of the judicial process to dispense justice without fear and favour, inevitably prejudices the rights and liberties of citizens enforced through a Court system functioning as an unbiased arbiter of the law. That the content of the speech appears to be aimed at interfering with and prejudicing the proceedings subjudice before the District Judiciary.”
After the commencement of today’s hearing, The Advocate General Islamabad Jahangir Khan Jadoon told the court that he has already filed a miscellaneous application seeking permission to submit the record of Imran Khan’s statement against anti-state institutions. Advocate General Islamabad also pleaded that a show cause notice should be issued to Imran Khan because his statements attract contempt of court charges.
At the request of judges, now this matter may be referred to the full court bench.
