ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has summoned PTI chief Imran Khan, who is accused of threatening federal capital police officers and a female magistrate during a Saturday rally, a show cause notice and summoned him on August 31 in a case pertaining to the contempt of court.

“We have to see the impact of such statements,” Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, one of the judges of the three-member bench, said. “Show cause notice is issued in such cases.”

The notice was issued by a three-member bench, headed by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and comprising Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb. The IHC had constituted the bench on Monday after the decision to start contempt proceedings against Imran was taken by acting IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq during the hearing of a petition challenging Gill’s police remand.

The IHC decided to take contempt of court proceedings against the PTI chairman on Monday for passing out remarks against Islamabad IG, DIG and a female magistrate, who gave a decision in the Shahbaz Gill case, during his speech on Saturday.

Sources said that the decision was taken after consultation with all the judges of the IHC.

“You [Islamabad IG, DIG and magistrate] all should be ashamed. We won’t spare you. Ms Magistrate Zeba get ready, we will also take action against you. You all should be ashamed that one man… who was subjected to torture for such a thing… you only got a weak person. You only have to torture him,” PTI chief Imran had said.

Justice Mohsin remarked that some people have made the state “disabled”, wondering how would the country run if the state institutions did not work.

Islamabad Advocate General Jahangir Khan Jadoon appeared in front of the court. Such remarks were issued during a rally on August 20, he said in response to a query from the court.

The advocate general read out the PTI chief remarks in front of the court.

In which case, such remarks were given, the court asked.

Jadoon said that a judicial magistrate had heard the case on judicial remand of Gill, and it approved the police plea for physical remand of the PTI leader. The advocate general said that statements against institutions should stop.

The court asked that could anyone comment on a case under hearing. “Even the court cannot interfere in the case under hearing,” Justice Kayani said.

Justice Aurangzeb remarked that it seemed that the advocate general had filed the case.

“If the courts are threatened, how will they proceed?” Justice Kayani while saying that a female additional session judge was called by name.

He added that statements started to appear against the court after the decision and inquired where people were being led.

“You want that people should make up their own decisions?” Justice Kayani said, “Can we expect a former prime minister to say such things.”

The judge added that the entire judiciary was given defamatory remarks. “If such an environment was created then no work can be done,” he said.

The judge had also inquired whether threats were issued against civil bureaucracy and the IG.