-Out of the frying pan, into the fire
-IHC grants Imran Khan protective bail till Thursday in terrorism case
-Larger Bench to begin contempt charge proceedings against PTI Chief today
-Contempt of Court notice given after consultations with all Judges
By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday decided to initiate contempt proceedings against PTI chairman Imran Khan for passing controversial remarks regarding female Sessions Court Judge Zeba Chaudhry.
The decision was taken by Acting IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq during the hearing of a petition filed by the PTI challenging incarcerated party member Shahbaz Gill’s police remand.
At a rally in Islamabad’s F-9 park on Saturday, Imran had threatened to file cases against Islamabad’s inspector general of police and deputy inspector general of police and declared: “We won’t spare you.” He then warned the judiciary against its “biased” attitude towards his party, saying that it should brace itself for the consequences.
The PTI chariman also warned additional district and sessions judge Zeba Chaudhry, who had approved two-day physical remand of Imran’s aide Shahbaz Gill’s on the request of the capital police, that she would also face dire consequences.
During the hearing, Islamabad Advocate General Jahangir Khan Jadoon raised the matter in court and urged the judges to take notice of Imran’s comments.
However, they replied: “That is a separate matter. We will see what will be done on it.” Later in the day, after consultation with other judges, the court decided to issue a contempt notice to Imran. A larger bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb will hear the case which is expected to be take up Tuesday (today).
The Court also granted Imran Khan protective bail till Thursday (August 25) in the same case. Earlier in the day, Imran’s lawyers Babar Awan and Faisal Chaudhry filed a petition seeking pre-arrest bail on his behalf in the IHC.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Babar Sattar took up the petition and asked about the objections raised by the registrar’s office.
Awan informed the judge that an objection pertaining to approaching the relevant forum was raised on the plea. Justice Kayani remarked that an objection pertaining to biometrics was also raised.
During the proceedings, Awan claimed that Imran’s Banigala residence had been “surrounded” and that “he cannot even approach the relevant court”. He urged the court to grant Imran protective bail so that the relevant forum could be approached.
“If the court wants to use its authority to grant pre-arrest bail, it’s your jurisdiction,” he added. Justice Kayani observed that the relevant forum was the anti-terrorism court and ruled out the possibility of the IHC granting Imran pre-arrest bail at this point.
The court then approved Imran’s protective bail till Thursday and directed him to approach the relevant court by then.
However, Awan pleaded with the court to extend the bail by one more day. He contended that three days’ time was not sufficient.
At that, Justice Kayani said, “I will appoint a special judge and issue an order for approaching the relevant forum within an hour.”
The court’s notice comes a day after Imran was booked under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (punishment for acts of terrorism) regarding his comments at his Islamabad rally on Saturday.
The first information report (FIR) registered against the PTI chief, registered at the Margalla police station, Imran had “terrorised and threatened top police officials and a respected female additional sessions judge” in his address.
The FIR also requested that legal action be pursued against Imran and an “exemplary punishment” be meted out.
