Islamabad: Islamabad High Court on Tuesday issued show cause notice to former PM Imran Khan KHAN and summoned him to appear in person on August 31 in contempt proceedings for making threatening remarks against a woman judge who had granted the police remand of his special assistant detained on charges of sedition.
Since his ouster from power this April, Khan has been facing at least 17 charges related to corruption, terrorism, hate speeches, contempt of the judiciary and inciting public sentiments against state institutions, especially the military. Police reports have been filed, which he termed as sarcastic. Neutral” in response to statements from top generals that they do not interfere in politics.
A three-member bench, constituted on Monday, issued the show-cause order after the acting Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, Aamer Farooq, decided to initiate contempt proceedings against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman.
The bench comprises Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Miyangul Hasan Aurangzeb.
On August 31, the court, summoning the PTI chief, referred the matter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandiyal and sought the addition of more judges to the bench.
The latest controversy revolves around Khan’s chief of staff Shahbaz Gillwho earlier this month urged Pakistani troops to disobey the “illegal orders” of their masters. sweet His remarks were later charged with treason, a crime that carries the death penalty. Khan and more recently Gill himself alleged that he was subjected to mental, physical and sexual harassment during interrogation.
On 20 August, Khan came to the rescue of his colleague at a public rally by warning the Inspector General of Islamabad and the Deputy Inspector General of Police that he would “not spare” Gill for subjecting him to alleged inhuman torture. He then turned to Additional Sessions Judge Jeba Choudhary, who sent Gill to police remand. Khan warned that he should be prepared to face the consequences.
Pakistan’s coalition government considered Khan’s warning to prosecute the police officers and the judge as a clear threat and filed charges against him.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Kayani said some people thought they could get away by saying whatever they wanted. He questioned how the country could run if state institutions stopped functioning. “Some people have paralyzed the state,” he said.
Law experts see the issue as a major legal challenge for Khan, who has been campaigning afresh since he was forced to step down on April 9 this year.
“Intimidation of police and judiciary is a serious crime. If found guilty, Khan could face up to six months in prison. His sentence would also disqualify him from contesting elections for five years,” said retired judge Shaik Usmani.
PTI dismissed the allegations against Khan as politically motivated and said they were being used to deter him from anti-government rallies.
Since his ouster from power this April, Khan has been facing at least 17 charges related to corruption, terrorism, hate speeches, contempt of the judiciary and inciting public sentiments against state institutions, especially the military. Police reports have been filed, which he termed as sarcastic. Neutral” in response to statements from top generals that they do not interfere in politics.
A three-member bench, constituted on Monday, issued the show-cause order after the acting Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, Aamer Farooq, decided to initiate contempt proceedings against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman.
The bench comprises Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Miyangul Hasan Aurangzeb.
On August 31, the court, summoning the PTI chief, referred the matter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandiyal and sought the addition of more judges to the bench.
The latest controversy revolves around Khan’s chief of staff Shahbaz Gillwho earlier this month urged Pakistani troops to disobey the “illegal orders” of their masters. sweet His remarks were later charged with treason, a crime that carries the death penalty. Khan and more recently Gill himself alleged that he was subjected to mental, physical and sexual harassment during interrogation.
On 20 August, Khan came to the rescue of his colleague at a public rally by warning the Inspector General of Islamabad and the Deputy Inspector General of Police that he would “not spare” Gill for subjecting him to alleged inhuman torture. He then turned to Additional Sessions Judge Jeba Choudhary, who sent Gill to police remand. Khan warned that he should be prepared to face the consequences.
Pakistan’s coalition government considered Khan’s warning to prosecute the police officers and the judge as a clear threat and filed charges against him.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Kayani said some people thought they could get away by saying whatever they wanted. He questioned how the country could run if state institutions stopped functioning. “Some people have paralyzed the state,” he said.
Law experts see the issue as a major legal challenge for Khan, who has been campaigning afresh since he was forced to step down on April 9 this year.
“Intimidation of police and judiciary is a serious crime. If found guilty, Khan could face up to six months in prison. His sentence would also disqualify him from contesting elections for five years,” said retired judge Shaik Usmani.
PTI dismissed the allegations against Khan as politically motivated and said they were being used to deter him from anti-government rallies.