Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has submitted an unconditional apology to the Islamabad High Court over his controversial remarks against Additional Districts and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry.
A five-member bench headed by Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah is hearing the case, with proceedings starting at 2:30 pm.
“I have never disrespected the court. I had talked about legal action [against the judge]. I will avoid such talk in the future,” he told the court.
“If you so desire, I will personally go to the female judge and apologise,” Imran Khan told the court.
Following the apology, the Islamabad court said that it would not indict the PTI chief and adjourned the hearing till October 3.
Before entering the courtroom, the PTI chief had told reporters that he was deliberating when asked whether he would submit an unconditional apology.
Earlier
Entry to courtroom No 1 was subject to passes issued by the Registrar’s Office.
Fifteen lawyers from Imran Khan’s legal team, fifteen lawyers from the Attorney General’s Office and the Advocate General’s Office are expected to attend. Officers, three court assistants, fifteen court reporters will be allowed to be present in the courtroom, while five lawyers from the high court and District Bar will be allowed to enter.
The Islamabad administration and police will be making security arrangements to maintain court decorum.
On September 8, the court had decided to formally frame contempt of court charge against Imran Khan after finding his response “unsatisfactory”.
A five-member bench, headed by IHC CJ Justice Athar Minallah, and comprising Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, and Babar Sattar, unanimously decided to indict Imran Khan.
Case background
The contempt charges stemmed from a fiery speech Imran Khan made on August 20 at Islamabad’s F9 park, in which he threatened police officials and a judge who had approved a detention order against his chief of staff, Shahbaz Gill.
He told the gathering that his party would bring lawsuits against the female judge and senior Islamabad police officers for their roles in the alleged custodial torture of Gill.
“We will not spare you,” the PTI chief vowed and added that his party would take action against them.
Islamabad police later charged him under anti-terrorism act for threatening senior police officials and a female magistrate.
The FIR, registered on the complaint of Magistrate Ali Javed in Islamabad’s Margalla Police Station, stated that Imran Khan’s speech was aimed to spread unrest and terror among the people.
“At the PTI’s rally at F-9 park a day ago, Imran Khan, during his address, had suddenly started frightening and threatening top police officials and respected female additional sessions judge,” it stated.
The IHC summoned the PTI chairperson to explain his controversial remarks against the judge.
Imran Khan, in his written response submitted to the court earlier this week, expressed regret rather than an outright apology, saying his “unintentional utterances” at the rally did not mean to threaten the judicial officer.
The court declared Imran Khan’s response “unsatisfactory” and decided to indict him later this month.
On Monday, the IHC ordered authorities to drop a charge of terrorism against the PTI chief in connection with the speech, however, the contempt charge remains in play.
