Former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan on Monday responded to the show-cause notice issued to him by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in contempt proceedings, offering to \u201ctake back\u201d his controversial remarks regarding additional district and sessions judge Zeba Chaudhry.
\nImran, through his attorney, claimed of not being aware at the time of passing the remarks that Chaudhry \u2014 who had approved the remand of his chief of staff Shahbaz Gill in a sedition case and earned the PTI chief\u2019s wrath \u2014 was a judicial officer, adding that he instead had the \u201cmisconception\u201d that she was an executive magistrate performing administrative duties for the federal government.
\nEarlier this month, a three-member IHC bench, headed by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and also comprising Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, issued a show-cause notice to Imran and initiated contempt proceedings against him for \u201cundermining the integrity and credibility of the judicial system in the eyes of public at large\u201d.
\nThe court had also summoned him on August 31.
\n\u201cThe respondent [Imran] submits with humility that if the words he uttered is regarded as inappropriate, he is willing to take them back,\u201d the PTI chief stated in his provisional reply submitted in the high court today.
\nImran\u2019s counsel maintained that the ex-premier had mistaken the additional sessions judge for the magistrate.
\n\u201cIt was in this misconception that she was referred to a magistrate,\u201d it said, adding that the PTI chief had no intention of saying anything against the judicial officer.
\n\u201cIt is submitted that the respondent had no motive (ill-will) behind the said speech or remarks, nor were those directed specifically towards the judicial officer.\u201d
\nIt argued that after seeing visuals of the physical torture and hearing about the sexual abuse on Shahbaz Gill during custody, the PTI chief had been disturbed. \u201cIt was neither intended to obstruct the course of justice as the order for remand had already been issued.
\nOn Imran\u2019s behalf, his counsel said that fair comment and criticism was desirable for the administration of justice and hence should be allowed.
\nHe also contended that the deputy registrar of the court had completely \u201cmisconceived the law and his own powers\u201d by writing a note to the IHC and demanding contempt proceedings against Imran.
\nThe PTI chief\u2019s response in court also said that he had not committed any contempt of court, rather his words at the F-9 rally were taken out \u201cselectively\u201d and blown \u201cout of context\u201d to give an impression that he wanted to take things in his hands.
\n\u201cOn the contrary, it was the legal right of every citizen to complain about the conduct\/misconduct of a judge or any other public functionary in accordance with the law,\u201d it maintained, adding that the \u201cgender debate\u201d regarding Imran\u2019s speech was initiated by some journalists and politicians.
\nThe counsel claimed that Imran\u2019s words \u201caap sab sharam karain\u201d was taken in a different context and regrettably viewed as contemptuous.
\n\u201cIt is submitted with respect that such words were uttered spontaneously without any previous motive or malice only to emphasise that the rule of law should be strictly followed in the matter of Shahbaz Gill by the authorities.\u201d
\nFurthermore, Imran called for a \u201cjudicial inquiry\u201d into the matter of Gill\u2019s torture and government crackdown on journalists \u201cfor the protection of the fundamental rights of the citizens\u201d.
\nHis response added that the PTI chief did not believe in hurting the honourable judges and categorically clarified that it was not his intent.
\nSubsequently, it prayed that the show-cause notice against him be discharged and contempt proceedings be disposed of.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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