ISLAMABAD: A five-judge larger bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has resumed the hearing against Pakistan Tehreeek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on the charge of contempt of court for threatening Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a public rally.
Ministers and MPs from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, blocked from entering the IHC, gathered outside the courtroom to show solidarity and support for the PTI chairman.
In addition, a large number of police officers were appointed as Imran Khan appeared in court. The PTI chairman said upon his arrival in court that he would speak to the media after the hearing.
Hours before the five-judge larger bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) will resume hearing the contempt case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the PTI chairman filed a miscellaneous application with the court on Thursday morning seeking Written arguments in the case are permitted.
In his new request, Imran Khan argued that under the Constitution, the High Court cannot exercise suo moto jurisdiction. The argument that the contempt case is inadmissible should be recorded.
“The written arguments will also be explained during the course of the proceedings,” read the plea.
IHC in its previous hearing on Aug 31 gave PTI Chairman another chance to submit a “well-considered” response in the contempt proceedings initiated against him for his controversial remarks about Judge Zeba Chaudhry.
The PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday submitted a supplementary reply in contempt of court case against him.
Former prime minister, in his reply expressed deep regrets over his unintentional utterances and said that he could not think of speaking anything against the judiciary.
He further said that his words were not meant to hurt the feelings of Judge Zeba Chaudhry. “The utterances were never meant to interfere with or in any way influence the course of administration of justice,” he said.
The former prime minister further stated that he has great respect for the lower judiciary and supports women’s rights in Pakistan.
Imran Khan said he “did not know” that the incident was unjust when he made the comments, adding that he was moved by the image of Shah Bazgir gasping for breath.
However, he urged the court to extricate him from the case based on Islamic principles of forgiveness and restraint.
