ISLAMABAD: PTI chief Imran Khan submitted an affidavit to the Islamabad High Court on Saturday in a contempt case against him, however, the former premier stopped short of rendering an unconditional apology to the court.

“The de[s]pondent realized during these proceedings before the Honourable Court that the de[s]pondent might have crossed a red line while making a public speech on 20 [of] August 2022,” said the affidavit, a copy of which is available with Aaj News.

Contempt of court proceedings was started against Imran in the high court after his “controversial” comments against Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a speech at an Islamabad rally.

Read more: Imran Khan turns up at Judge Zeba Chaudhry’s court unannounced

Imran while commenting on the Shahbaz Gill case had spoken about the “biased” attitude towards his party. He warned the judge of dire consequences, adding that the judiciary should brace itself for the consequences.

Later, Imran offered to tender an apology to the judge which otherwise had resulted in an indictment.

In his affidavit, Imran said that he never intended to threaten Judge Chaudhry and “there was no intention behind the statement to take any action other than legal action”.

He said he wanted to assure the court that he was willing to explain and clarify before the district and sessions court judge that“ neither he nor his party seeks/sought any action“ against her and he was willing apologise to her “if she got an impression that the deponent (Imran) had crossed a line”.

Read more: System takes a month to get apology from Imran Khan in contempt case

Imran made an unannounced visit to Jude Chaudhry’s court on Friday to offer an apology after the district and sessions court in Islamabad approved his bail in a case pertaining to the violation of Section 144 (ban on the gathering of five or more people) during a rally in Islamabad in August.

However, when the former premier arrived at the court, the woman judge was not in her court.

It said that the former premier wanted to assure the court that in the future he would not do anything that would hurt the dignity of any court and the judiciary, especially the lower judiciary.

The PTI chief also expressed his willingness to take any further steps that the court “deems necessary and appropriate for the satisfaction of the honourable court that he never intended to interfere in the process of the court or impugn the dignity or independence of the judiciary”.

Imran assured the court that he would always stand by his statement in the affidavit in “letter and spirit”.