SC ‘disappointed’ in Khan

By
Azam Butt
-
36
350

 

  • Apex court orders PTI chief to submit detailed response in contempt case
  • Says leader of such stature not expected to pass such remarks
  • Not looking for apology, but won’t allow ridiculing of court either

 

The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday refused to entertain the riposte by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the contempt of court case, with Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry saying Khan’s remarks were tantamount to abusing the judiciary and could not be allowed.

He directed the respondent to submit a detailed statement with the court by August 28.

A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Jawwad S Khwaja and Justice Shaikh Azmat Saeed, started hearing the case regarding the PTI chief’s remarks during a press conference on July 26, in which Khan had termed the role of the (lower) judiciary in the alleged rigging in the May 11 general elections “shameful”.

In a packed-to-capacity courtroom, the PTI chief came flanked by his lawyer Hamid Khan and other top party leaders. Top lawyers, journalists and political activists were also present.

Imran has not only been a staunch supporter of the judiciary but was also the petitioner who got former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani disqualified last year.

Though the chief justice and his fellow judges were in a light mode initially, the court environment got serious as soon as the written statement was submitted with the court by Hamid.

The chief justice remarked that this was a matter of prestige of the institution and not about individuals.

The court asked Imran Khan to present proof against returning officer‚ if any. The court said the term “shameful” used by PTI chief was apparently abusive and the remarks were not acceptable to the court at all.

Hamid said Imran did not aim at scandalising the judiciary and respected the judiciary.

Terming his verbal statement inadequate in the contempt of court case, the court gave Hamid around one hour to submit the PTI chief’s revised reply.

In his revised response, Imran submitted that his July 26 press conference was not against the judiciary but he had criticised the role of the returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) during the May 11 general elections. The bench rejected the revised statement, with Justice Saeed terming it “disappointing”. He said the court expected a better response from Imran.

Hamid said the PTI was disappointed with the role played by the ROs and DROs in the elections that were rigged. The CJP remarked that those who were defeated in polls were always disappointed. He argued it was also alleged that the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) were hands in glove. He said there were no personal egos involved but they wanted respect of the institution.

He said Imran had filed 31 petitions for irregularities in polls held in Punjab and all were forwarded to tribunals. He said the PTI should have waited for the hearings.

“We respect Imran Khan and he is a national leader and he has been supportive of the court,” he said, adding that Khan should have read Article 175.

The CJP said there were around 20,000 cases pending with the court. “If he (Khan) was in a hurry, we would have heard his petition early.” He said he did not want the PTI chief to aplologise but it was astonishing that a person who was fighting for courts pride was now ridiculing them. “It is unacceptable,” he added.

He said the court might give more time for a detailed response.

Hamid said he would require three weeks to submit a detailed statement.

Justice Khwaja said the court could not respond to allegations levelled against it.

“Can such words be used for the judiciary?” the CJP asked, adding since Imran was a national leader and a public figure, such words and statements were not expected and therefore, could not be ignored.

This prompted Imran to himself move to the rostrum and say he and his party strongly supported the judiciary and he had worked hard during the movement for restoration of the judiciary.

“The restoration of the judiciary had been on top of my agenda. I had also spent eight days in jail for that,” Imran said.

The CJP, however, stopped Khan from speaking, and told him that there were others who had even resigned from their jobs for the restoration of the judges.

The court deemed the replies inadequate and said the words allegedly used for the judiciary could be punishable by law according to the court’s decision at the end of the hearing.

The court gave Imran until August 28 to submit a written, detailed response and adjourned the proceedings.

 

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36 COMMENTS

  1. CJ is not being a judge but acting as party to the case. Best way to resolve the demand of PTI leader is to church thumb impressions of voter in disputes areas. I ran Khan is not asking any. Favors from CJ and the Bench but investigations in rigging. Its an election rigging case and by its nature more important than cases waiting. To be heard in courts. The comparison of this issue CJ is wrong Pakistanis are not slaves and its not imperialism era Cm should have given orders as soon as the complaint was lodged of vote rigging Why CJ was buying time in this regard In the interests of fair justice for all CJ must come out and order for immediate bio metric checking of voters. CJ is acting for others and not delivering justice for all I hope he does his job for which he is highly paid from tax payers

    • CJ is follower of Mullah Omer. He is against Army, Political parties and people of Pakistan. He just loves PMLN which are supporters of Mullah Omer and Saudis.

    • Recounting of the votes is precisely the MAIN issue. Contempt of court is a deliberate diversion.

      Absolutely no question of back off. Justice needs to be done. The SC and the CJ in particular must heed to this demand, recount the votes of the fraudulent election. Failing this they will rightly be judged as corrupt as the thieves of this country.

  3. If anyone pays attention to the judge's remarks, it is obvious that the court is acknowledging that there are different rule for people of different stature. Therein lies the problem. This so called "independent" judiciary is the one encouraging discrimination. Law is the law is the law. Regardless of who breaks it, justice should be blind and should treat everybody equally. Unfortunately, our justice is not blind. It, however, is one eyed 🙂

  4. I am really disappointed the way IK and his followers have reacted in response to SC notice. IK should have been careful in his remarks and shown maturity.

    • what did he say that was so "sharmnaak"? kindlu please explain because its beyond me, seriously. And im NOT an IK follower but just a Pakistani, who knows my rights, if i may take the liberty to say that. So yea please, enlighten me.

  5. how the heck is imran khan of high stature? He constantly talks non sensible things, constantly blames everyone and abuses everyone for the failures, loves to take the credit for the successes and uses language like "phainti laga doonga nawaz sharif ko"… he's an immature 6 year old in the body of a 60 year old.

  6. Since PTI formed government in PK, the first responsibility to improve condition there. His own 90 days deadline is fast approaching. He knows he has nothing to show and is looking for way out by lashing at everybody. This is not bollywood movie where hero always wins.

  7. In order to end the 'fracas' with the Judiciary it may be necessary for IK to climb down on
    using words like 'shameful'. I think IK has done enough to highlight his concerns

  9. SHAME TO IMRAN KHAN OVER HIS REMARKS TOWARDS CJ AND SC OF PAKISTAN .THE WHOLE NATION WISHES STERN AND STRICT ACTIONS FROM SC TO PTI AND LEADER OF THIS PARTY IMRAN KHAN.

    • what "REMARKS TOWARDS CJ AND SC"? DO you even knw whats going on…what this issue is all about??????

  10. Imran has not stood his ground. In a series of press conferences he had strongly criticised and used strong words for judiciary including SC. Now, he is only talking about ROs. His back tracking clearly shows he does not have the guts to face Chaudhry.

  11. The words shameful, ashamed and shame are used by CJ and other SC judges everyday for all kinds appearing before them or the ones they talk about in absence. They use these words during proceedings in open court. Does it mean that the judges are abusive all day long???

  12. WHO IS INVOLVED & RESPONSIBLE FOR RIGGING IN ELECTION?
    Imran is right and CJ is left.
    By opening this case against Imran Khan – look what the result is = that every body, lay man like me is also criticizing the Supreme Court. What the CJ got out of this case? He got more humiliation to the court. People are calling bad names on CJ.
    This is the CJ who ordered the price of the sugar as Rs. 40 / KG but no body obey his orders. Govt. has no writ and Court has no writ.

  13. Imran Khan is too decent to raise the middle finger to Iftikhar Chaudhery.I wont mind doing that to a thug who to our shame is the CJ

  14. Now we are talking about KING;S English and the word " shameful " needs to be defined in the text and the context! Our CJ is not asking for an apology but is disappointed. Can he please write a text for Imran and be done with it. Hardly a day goes without our respected CJ is not seeking publicity in the media. I am ashamed to write this or is this shameful on my part?

  15. I doubt if shameful is an abusive words Perhaps SC and his mates can dig from Urdu dictionaries and satisfy the people of Pakistan. Its a simple words which is used commonly by all even by Judges There seems to be two tier system of Justice in Pakistan. For wealthy no court will ask much but for poor and middle class they are summoned and sent to trial. ONE JUSTICE FOR ALL IS REQUIRED IN PAKISTAN LIKE COUNTRIES OF THE WEST NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW

  16. This is nothing but a distraction. The Supreme Court knows it has messed up with the Presidential elections…

  17. Choosing the correct words is the responsibility

    SC and IK . SC should try to fix the problem , IK sould also focus PK managment is multi task job .

    • History will judge Zardari as a wise politician who avoided to restore Iftikhar Chaudhry becoz he knew this man would creat chaos in the country.

  18. History will judge Zardari as a wise politician who avoided to restore Iftikhar Chaudhry becoz he knew this man would creat chaos in the country.

  19. Imran Khan has started following footsteps of PPP after his gross failure in KPK.
    He has failed to eradicate corruption & terrorism. His party members with fake degrees and other corrupt practices are exposed. His KPK government has failed to prevent terrorist attacks, rather the attacks have increased ever since Taliban Khan has come to power in KPK.
    He is mudslinging &scandalizing the judiciary to divert attention of the people.
    No wonder if Taliban Khan is Disqualified too similar to how incompetent & corrupt Gillani was Disqualified.

  20. Imran Khan is leader of 7.5 million Voters, by issuing a contempt notice to him and calling him to CJP Dardar is insulting the people who voted to PTI more over there is no country in the world where so many contempts notices are issued by the Supreme Court Why so much over use of contempts is in land of the pure?Now the Supreme Court should also issue contempt notice to LHCBA for passing the resolution against Judges who passed the order for President election changed date on PMLN pettition. Justice should be seen to be done not favourtisme.

  22. With freezing of Malik Riaz accounts by SC, PTI funding has been limit to foreign sources and that is the real reason for IK's tantrums. Also note that PPP and PTI are one in their attack on CJ. No surprise here.

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