Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), will appear before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday to answer charges of contempt of court (today).
To begin contempt of court proceedings against the former premier for “threatening” Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during his address in Islamabad, the IHC established a larger bench in August.
The PTI head promised the court in an affidavit presented to the court two days ago that he would never again take any action that would diminish the honor of any court or the judiciary, particularly the subordinate courts.
Imran had additionally stated that he would strictly adhere to what he had promised the court during the previous hearing, and that he was prepared to take more measures to appease the court in this regard.
The ousted PM said that if the judge felt that he had crossed a “red line,” he was “ready to apologise.”
Imran had also appeared before a lesser court in Islamabad three days earlier to express his regret to Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry, who wasn’t there at the time.
The matter will be heard by a larger bench of five judges today. The bench will also feature Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Babar Sattar as Chief Justice of the IHC Athar Minallah will preside over the proceedings.
Strict security measures have been put in place because the court is likely to announce its decision after today’s proceedings. On presentation of an admission pass granted by the Registrar’s Office, attorneys, legal representatives, and media will be permitted entry into the courtroom.
It should be recalled that during the previous hearing, the judicial bench had deemed Imran’s apologetic statement satisfactory.
However, Imran has refrained from expressing an unequivocal apology in a fresh affidavit that was presented in response to court orders. Instead, he has promised the judge that he will see to it that the declaration he made in court is carried out and that he won’t make statements like this again.
