HC show-causes, summons Imran Khan in threat to judge case

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad high court issued Tuesday a show-cause to former PM Imran Khan and summoned him to appear in person before it on August 31 in contempt proceedings for making threatening remarks against a woman judge who had approved police remand of his special assistant detained on sedition charges.
Since his ouster from power this April, at least 17 police reports have been registered against Khan on allegations related to graft, terrorism, hate speeches, contempt of judiciary and incitement of public sentiments against state institutions, specifically the military, which he sarcastically dubbed “neutrals” in response to statements from top generals that they don’t interfere in politics.
The show-cause was issued by a three-member bench constituted Monday, following the decision to initiate contempt proceedings against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) chairman by Aamer Farooq, the acting CJ of Islamabad HC.
The bench comprises Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.
While summoning the PTI chief on August 31, the court forwarded the case to Umar Ata Bandial, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, seeking inclusion of more judges in the bench.
The latest controversy revolves around Khan’s chief of staff Shahbaz Gill, who had urged Pakistani soldiers earlier this month in a televised address to disobey “illegal orders” from their bosses. Gill was subsequently charged with sedition, a crime that carries the death penalty, for his remarks. Khan and lately Gill himself alleged that he was mentally, physically and sexually tortured during interrogation.
On August 20, Khan came to his aide’s defence by warning the Islamabad inspector-general and deputy inspector-general of police at a public rally that he would “not spare” them for subjecting Gill to alleged inhuman torture. He then turned his guns towards additional sessions judge Zeba Chaudhry who had sent Gill into police remand. Khan warned that she should brace herself for consequences.
Pakistan’s coalition government deemed Khan’s warning to sue police officers and the judge an explicit threat and filed charges against him.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Kayani said some people thought they could get away with saying whatever they want. He questioned how the country could run if state institutions stopped functioning. “Certain people have crippled the state,” he remarked.
Law experts consider this issue a big legal challenge for Khan, who has been campaigning for fresh elections since being forced to step down this year on April 9.
“Threatening police and judiciary is a serious crime. If convicted, Khan could face six months in jail. His conviction would also disqualify him from contesting elections for five years,” said retired judge Shaiq Usmani.
PTI has dismissed the accusations against Khan as being politically motivated, saying they were being used to block him from leading anti-government rallies.