Islamabad: Pakistan’s Supreme Court gave former Prime Minister Imran Khan another chance to defend himself against claims that he broke a court order by marching in a demonstration on May 25.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader was threatened with a show-cause notice at one point because the bench appeared irritated by Imran Khan’s attorneys’ evasive tactics.
The court is hearing a government motion to prosecute Imran Khan, 70, with contempt of court for breaching orders to keep his Azadi March protest away from the D-Chowk near Islamabad’s Red Zone.
The petition was heard by a five-member bench that included Justices Ijazul Ahsan, Muneeb Akhtar, Yahya Afridi, and Mazahar Akbar Naqvi, and was presided over by CJP Bandial.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader was threatened with a show-cause notice at one point because the bench appeared to be unsatisfied with Imran Khan’s attorneys’ evasive tactics, but the court ultimately chose restraint.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, on the other hand, stated that the evidence presented to the court supported sending the former premier a notice.
He went on to say that the court was moving with “caution” and “patience” in this instance, adding that “we are giving Imran another chance to explain.”
“In accordance with the documentation on file with the court, a notification should be delivered to Imran Khan. He still has time to explain himself, thus “He stated.
Finally, the court postponed the hearing and ordered Imran Khan to provide a detailed response with his signature by November 5.
The court was not satisfied with Khan’s prior explanation that he was ignorant of any commitment made by his party that the protest march would only take place in the designated venues.
Previously, on May 25, the Supreme Court issued an injunction prohibiting the PTI from holding its “Azadi March” near Peshawar Mor between Islamabad’s H-9 and G-9 sectors. The government had earlier petitioned the court last week, through the interior ministry, to launch contempt of court proceedings against the former cricketer turned politician for disobeying that order.
However, Khan and his supporters allegedly disregarded court orders to avoid D-Chowk by traveling in that direction.
