IHC begins contempt proceedings against PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan

23-08-2022

Finia Hilmes

Pakistan & Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

On Monday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) took notice of threats directed at Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry as well as police officers in a rally at the F-9 Park by PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on August 20 after a first information report (FIR) was registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA)(Yousafzi, 2022). According to the FIR, the aim of the threats made by Imran Khan was to prevent the judiciary and police officers from carrying out their legal obligations (The News International, 2022). Consequently, the IHC will now issue Imran Khan a contempt of court notice (Yousafzi, 2022). 

The decision to issue the contempt of court notice was taken in response to the registrar’s note and after consultation with all other judges. The contempt case will be heard by a larger bench compromising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Miangul who will hold the first hearing today (Yousafzi, 2022). Nevertheless, the PTI Chairman was granted transit bail until August (The News International, 2022).

Earlier today, Islamabad Advocate General Jahangir Khan Jadoon filed a miscellaneous application in the IHC seeking permission to submit the concerned record to the court (The News International, 2022). Specifically, in his application, the Advocate General pleaded with the court stating that he wanted to submit the record of anti-judiciary and anti-state institutions remarks and speeches made by the former Prime Minister in the past in form of a video clip (The News International, 2022). Therefore, the applicant requested the IHC to allow the video clip to be played in the courtroom through USB or other digital material (The News International, 2022).

Sources and further reading: 

The News International. (2022, August 23). IHC takes up contempt case against Imran Khan today. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/984746-ihc-to-take-up-contempt-case-against-imran-khan-today

Yousafzai, A. (2022, August 23). Threats to addl sessions judge: IHC to begin contempt proceedings against Imran. The News International. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/984645-threats-to-addl-sessions-judge-ihc-to-issue-imran-contempt-notice