ISLAMABAD: In a surprise move, PTI Chairman Imran Khan personally visited the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry before hearing a contempt of court case at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday and apologized. .
The former prime minister had threatened a woman judge during a rally in Islamabad on August 20, on which she is facing charges of contempt of court. In a previous hearing at the IHC, Khan apologized and agreed to apologize to the judge.
When Imran Khan reached the court, the judge was not present in the chamber as he was on leave.
Imran Khan told the court reader that I have come to apologize to Judicial Magistrate Zeba Chaudhry. He asked the reader to be a witness for his court appearance to apologize.
“You must tell Madam Zeba Chaudhry that Imran Khan has come and wants to apologize if any of his words have hurt her feelings,” he told the reader before leaving.
IHC hearing
On September 22, the date set for Khan’s indictment, the PTI chairman finally apologized to the IHC.
A five-member bench of Islamabad High Court comprising Chief Justice Athar Minullah, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri and Justice Babar Sattar heard the case.
“If I have crossed any line, I apologise. It will not happen again. It was never my intention to hurt the sentiments of the court,” Khan assured the court, “No such act again.” Will be.”
He had also requested the court to allow him to personally apologize to Judge Zeba Chaudhry.
On this, IHC Chief Justice Minullah said that the court is not filing charges against Khan today and has adjourned the indictment till October 3.
The court values your statement. [given] before the court. You understand the seriousness of your statement, we appreciate it,” IHC Chief Justice Minullah had said.
The court directed Khan to submit an affidavit regarding his statement by September 29 and said that the case would be taken forward in the light of this (affidavit).
Problem
The PTI chairman had held a rally in the federal capital to express solidarity with his chief of staff Shahbaz Gul on August 20, after which he was subjected to torture in custody.
He warned the Islamabad Inspector General of Police and Deputy Inspector General of Police that they would “not spare” Gul, vowing to file cases against them for allegedly inhumane torture.
Pointing his guns at the Additional Sessions Judge who had sent Gill to physical remand on the request of the police, Imran Khan then said: [the judge] You should prepare yourself for the consequences.
Earlier, terming Khan’s reply at the last hearing on September 8 as “unsatisfactory”, the IHC had decided to indict the former prime minister for not submitting an unconditional apology.
In his first response to the IHC’s show-cause notice in the case, the PTI chairman did not apologise, but offered to withdraw his remarks “if they were inappropriate”.
In his second reply, which was a 19-page document, the PTI chairman apparently chose to tell the court that it should quash the notice based on his explanation and follow Islamic principles of pardon.
However, in both the responses, the PTI chairman did not offer an unconditional pardon, which ultimately led to the court’s decision, despite the ex-prime minister being pardoned.
