Khan distances himself from apology to Chaudhry

• In response to former CJP’s defamation notice, PTI chief ‘lauds’ Chaudhry’s services and seeks an apology for ‘wrong choice of words’
• In tweet, Khan distances himself from written response and says he still believes former CJP rigged elections
• Khan’s lead counsel Hamid Khan says response was drafted after discussion with PTI chairman

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Monday retracted from the apology letter allegedly written by his counsel to the former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, pleading forgiveness for accusing him of election rigging in last year’s general elections.

Shortly after the letter detailing the PTI chairman’s response to the former CJP was circulated in the media, Khan rushed to his twitter account to clarify that he stood by his statements regarding Chaudhry and returning officers’ involvement in rigging and he never lauded the former top judge.

In this connection, founding PTI member Imran Ismail said that the letter to Chaudhry had been drafted by Khan’s lawyer without consultation.

However, Khan’s lead counsel Hamid Khan said that the letter specifically addressed the legal notice served by Chaudhary and was formulated after discussion with the PTI chairman.

On July 25, the former CJP had sent a Rs 20 million defamation notice to the PTI chairman under Section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance, 2002. However, the retired justice added that he would withdraw his claim if the PTI chief tendered an unconditional apology or agreed to pay Rs 20 billion within a period of 14 days.

‘I HOPE CHAUDHRY WILL EXCUSE ME’:

In a written six-page response to the defamation notice which emerged Monday, Khan’s senior lawyers Hamid Khan and Ahmad Awais said that Khan did not mean to “abuse or disrespect any member of the judiciary” and urged the former chief justice to “reconsider the idea of entering into personal litigation”.

The letter, dated August 2, reads, “Our client has high respect and regard for the judiciary as an institution and would continue to do so in the future. We believe that whatever has been said by our client was an expression of disappointment due to the failure of the ECP and the judiciary to dispense justice to him and his party at every level. The language used may not be appropriate but unfortunately so is the nature of discourse during public meetings and political press conferences. He did not mean any of what you have quoted him to have said.”

Contrary to Khan’s “scandalous language” against the former top judge, the letter goes on to saying, “We believe that it may not be appropriate for a former Chief Justice of Pakistan to enter into any personal litigation. We are aware that your focus has always been on rendering service to the country and did never care about making money. In any case, our lawyer never meant to cause any mental agony or torture or harassment or humiliation to you. We hope that you will reconsider the idea of entering into personal litigation.”

The PTI chief went on to appreciate the former chief justice’s directions, judgments and observations regarding the fair and free elections – however, his judgments, he pointed out, have not been implemented.

About Chaudhry’s address to returning officers, Khan stated, “Your address to returning officers gave impression that perhaps free hand had been given to ROs. This impression was strengthened when ROs were admired by the other chief justices. May be we have committed a mistake in making choice of words. We hope you will excuse us. May be your address to ROs was aimed at making the elections fair and transparent.”