Earlier, the IHC had issued a show-cause notice to Khan asking him to appear before the court…reports Asian Lite News
There seems no end to the woes of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Even as he is involved in a perpetual confrontation with the new Shehbaz Sharif dispensation, a five-judge larger bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has been constituted to proceed against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) boss for “intimidating a female judge”.
Headed by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, the bench comprises Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri and Babar Sattar.
It will resume proceedings on the matter on August 31 when the ex-PM is supposed to appear in person before the court. Earlier, the IHC had issued a show-cause notice to Khan asking him to appear before the court, reported the Dawn.
Initially, the matter was heard by a three-member bench.
The show-cause notice to Khan mentioned that the statement was made in a sub-judice matter to get “favourable” verdict and prima facie, this act was tantamount to obstructing the course of justice and due process and to undermine public confidence in the court of law.
“These remarks have been made with the motive of bringing the administration of law into disrepute and eroding the integrity and credibility of the judicial system.”
“Prima facie, Mr Khan committed criminal as well as judicial contempt, punishable under section 5 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003”, it added.
Also, Yaseen Gill, brother of Khan’s chief of staff Shahbaz Gill, has filed a complaint before the IHC chief justice against additional sessions judge Zeba Chaudhry.
It stated that “she had passed the order on August 17, 2022 [to hand over Mr Shahbaz’s custody to police] in grave violation and derogation of judicial norms and express provisions of law”.
PTI seeks live telecast
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) has decided to approach Islamabad High Court (IHC) for the live-telecast of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s international telethon for flood victims, scheduled to be held on Monday night.
Last week, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had imposed a ban on broadcasting live speeches of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on all satellite TV channels over his controversial remarks against police officials and a woman judge.
Citing sources on Sunday, The Express Tribune reported that PTI will file an application in the IHC today.
Imran will hold an international telethon tonight from 9.30 to 12 pm (local time) to help the flood victims.
According to The Express Tribune, the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will also join him.
In a video message shared on PTI’s official Twitter handle, Imran appealed to the people including overseas Pakistanis to participate in the telethon on Monday and donate whatever they can.
Since July, Pakistan has been in the midst of a humanitarian crisis. Deadly floods have ravaged the country, affecting 15 per cent of its population.
To date, over 1,000 people have lost their lives, while 1,527 have been injured since June 14 from the rains and floods, according to the official tally. (with inputs from IANS/ANI)