The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has taken notice of former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s statement in which he allegedly threatened additional sessions judge of the federal capital Zeba Chaudhry and decided to initiate contempt of court proceedings against him.
The decision was taken after consultation of the all IHC judges, Express News reported on Monday.
A three-judge IHC bench headed by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and comprising Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb and Justice Babar Sattar will take up the case tomorrow (Tuesday).
Imran while addressing a rally at Islamabad’s F-9 park on Saturday 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.
Imran was also booked in a terrorism case on the complaint of Islamabad Saddar Magistrate Ali Javed for threatening the judge.
The first information report (FIR), a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, was lodged with the Margalla police station at 10 pm, Saturday, following a speech of Imran Khan at the PTI rally at F9 Park. The FIR also carries Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The FIR was lodged hours before another Islamabad police station received a written complaint from a resident of G-11/2 for lodging a case against Imran over making hate-speeches, and inciting rebellion against the army, police and judiciary.
The FIR lodged by the Margalla police said that the PTI chief threatened the additional sessions judge of Islamabad with a view to terrorise the high officials of the police and the judiciary, so that they could not fulfil their duties and refrain from taking action against the PTI due to fear of Imran.
Protective bail
Earlier today, Imran was granted a pre-arrest bail till August 25 by the Islamabad High Court in the same case after he approached the court amid reports that the authorities were planning to arrest him.
The bail plea was heard by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Babar Sattar, who approved the bail and ordered him to approach the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) within these three days.
Imran’s counsel, Babar Awan and Faisal Chaudhry, argued that the PTI chief should be granted protective bail as he wanted to appear before the ATC, but his house was “surrounded by the police”.
They further feared that the police personnel could arrest Imran if he appeared in court without a protective bail.
The PTI chief’s counsel stated that the concerned ATC judge was on leave hence, the high court had to be approached.
Coalition parties want Imran penalised
The coalition parties of the incumbent government had earlier urged the superior judiciary to take immediate notice of former prime minister Imran Khan's threat to a female judge during his F-9 Park speech.
“Take legal action against Imran Khan and his colleagues for interfering in the affairs of the interior minister and threatening the officers and government staff who are performing their duties according to the law,” according to a joint statement issued on Saturday.
The statement strongly condemned the speech delivered by Imran on Saturday night in which a female judge was named and threatened, while an attempt was made to intimidate the Islamabad IG and DIG.
“These threats are blatant bullying and lawlessness. Imran is the chairman of a traitorous foreign-aided party and a recipient of foreign funding, who has plotted a coup in Pakistan Army.”
SCBA welcomes the move
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) welcomed the Islamabad High Court's decision to initiate contempt proceeding against Imran Khan.
SCBA President Ahsan Bhoon lambasted the way in which the name of female Additional Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Zeba Chaudhry was hurled publicly, saying it was was not only offensive and derogatory but also undermined the dignity and prestige of the entire judicial system.
“His [Imran Khan’s] such conduct also exposed how much he cares about the respect and reverence of honorable Judges. Being the apex bar of the country, this association cannot turn a blind eye towards such malicious acts, which undermines the dignity, decorum and prestige of our Judiciary. Time and again, this association has maintained that everyone is free to express his/her disagreement with judgement but no one is free to harm the respect and dignity of Judges.”
The SCBA president in the statement further added that, “Let no one be mistaken that SCBAP in particular and the entire legal fraternity in general, will not allow anyone to sabotage the dignity and repute of our institutions, especially judiciary come what may”.
He also demanded to take strict cognisance against those found involved in such contemptuous act with ‘iron fist’, so that no one dares to indulge in such malicious act, ever again.