ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court is reviewing a contempt of court case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. Additional Attorney General (AAG) Amir Rehman informed the court that the government is committed to pursuing the case seriously.
This development occurred during a hearing on Tuesday. The federal government filed the contempt case regarding the May 25, 2022, long march, where Khan allegedly defied court orders.
A seven-member constitutional bench led by Justice Aminuddin Khan heard the case. Other members of the bench included Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan.
Justice Aminuddin asked if the government truly intended to proceed with the petition. The AAG confirmed, stating the government wanted the court to hear the matter in-depth. Rehman argued that Khan had violated a court order during the May 25 long march.
Justice Aminuddin noted that issuing a notice would require Khan’s personal appearance in court. He directed the AAG to consult on presenting the jailed former prime minister in court.
Justice Mandokhail highlighted that contempt cases are strictly between the court and the accused. He urged the parties to avoid emotional arguments, stating the court was providing a clear path forward.
Salman Akram Raja, Khan’s lawyer, informed the court that his client had already submitted a response. Raja explained that Khan had not received the court’s verbal order because disrupted mobile services had blocked communication with the legal team.
Justice Hilali asked if a notice had been served to Khan. Raja clarified that the response was filed only after receiving the notice. The bench then adjourned the hearing indefinitely.
The long march in question was called by the cricketer-turned-politician to demand the dissolution of assemblies and announce election dates. This followed his ouster through a no-confidence motion by the Pakistan Democratic Movement earlier that year.
Hearing on Civilians’ Military Trials Adjourned
The same seven-member bench also addressed the trial of civilians in military courts. The AAG requested an adjournment due to the unavailability of Khawaja Haris, the Ministry of Defence’s lawyer, citing his health issues.
Rehman told the court that Haris could not attend because of a stomach ailment. The court accepted the request and adjourned the hearing until Thursday.
During the session, advocate Latif Khosa requested that detainees be transferred to regular prisons. However, this request was denied.
Justice Aminuddin suggested making arrangements for detainees to meet their families. He reminded Khosa to focus on the ongoing case and avoid deviating from the matter under discussion.
