No indictment as Imran Khan agrees to apologise to lady judge

The Islamabad High Court has remarked that it was not going to indict PTI Chairman Imran Khan as the former prime minister has shown his willingness to apologise to the lady judge against whom he had issued threatening remarks, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The court deferred the contempt proceedings against the PTI chairman when the latter tendered his unconditional apology saying that he was ready to extend his apology to Additional and District Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry for his controversial remarks uttered during a public rally in Islamabad. 

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah who was heading the larger bench hearing the contempt proceedings against the former prime minister accepted his apology remarking that the court decided to not indict the PTI chief after he agreed to apologise to Judge Zeba Chaudhry and the hearing was subsequently adjourned till Oct 3 (Monday).

Besides IHC CJ Minallah, the larger bench was also comprised of Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, and Justice Babar Sattar. 

The Islamabad High Court had initiated contempt proceedings against Imran over his diatribe against Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry, who had approved PTI leader Shahbaz Gill’s physical remand in a sedition case, at a public rally in Islamabad’s F-9 Park on Aug 20.

During the last hearing on Sept 8, the IHC had rejected Imran’s written reply in the case saying it was not convinced that the respondent had purged himself of the wrongdoing alleged against him in relation to which the show cause notice was issued. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah observed that PTI Chairman’s replies to the court’s show-cause notice appeared to be “justifying” contempt of the judiciary and showed “no remorse or regret”.

During today’s court proceeding which did not last more than 15 minutes, the PTI chairman appeared before the bench in person. He went to the dock and said: “I’m willing to extend my apology to the female judge. The court thinks that I have crossed the limits but it was not my intention to threaten a female judge to whom I am ready to apologise.”

The PTI chief also assured the court that he would not repeat such mistake again in future uttering that he was sorry to cross the red line. 

He said that he had fought for the freedom of the judiciary for 26 years and never uttered anything all these years to humiliate it. He said that he realized the seriousness of the case during the contempt proceedings against him. He said that he talked about the legal action only.  

حقیقی آزادی کے لیے مافیا سے جنگ لڑ رہا ہوں، عدلیہ سے کبھی نہیں لڑوں گا۔عمران خان

pic.twitter.com/uehbiZQRPp

— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 22, 2022

IHC asks Imran to submit his affidavit in a week 

After listening to Imran and accepting his apology, the court remarked that it was not framing charges against the former prime minister.

“It is your personal decision as to visit the judge in person,” the IHC said. “If you have realised [your] mistake and ready to apologise for it […] that is enough,” the court remarked.

The court, however, directed the PTI chief to submit his affidavit to the court. 

On this, Imran asked if there was any option other than submitting an affidavit to satisfy the court. But the court replied in negative directing him to submit his affidavit within a week. 

Strict security measures were put in place in and around the IHC in view of former prime minister’s hearing. 

Passes were issued to a limited number of people for entry into the courtroom.

710 cops to perform security duty

An elaborate security plan was in place in connection with the hearing of contempt of court case against former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan at Islamabad High Court (IHC) today as 710 police officials and personnel, including two SPs, have already been deployed.   

According to the security order, the IHC’s surroundings will be monitored with the help of Safe City cameras while the Security Division, FC and Ranger’s personnel will perform duties inside the court. 

All security personnel, barring those on the rooftop, will be unarmed. 

SSP Operations Jamil Zafar has been tasked with ensuring security outside the court. 

The order says that the on-duty personnel of different law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) will not be allowed to use cellphones, and that the use of wireless will only be allowed for official purposes; departmental action will be taken against the officials and personnel found violating the order.  

Barbed wires are also being laid around the IHC to ensure foolproof security, while 500 short-range and 500 long-range armoured vehicles of teargas shells will also take positions. 

On the other hand, 3, 000 shells and vehicles are already ready at Police Lines.      

Reporters: Ehtisham Kiyani and Farzana Siddique