ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a contempt of court notice to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan over his critical and derogatory remarks against the judiciary and summoned him to appear before the court on August 2.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, will hear the case on Friday.
In the notice issued to the cricket legend-turned-politician, the apex court said that Imran Khan apparently had tried to incite hatred against the supreme court in one of his interactions with the media.
“Prima facie, it seems that he (Imran Khan) has started a deliberate campaign to scandalize the Court and bring judges into hatred, ridicule or contempt. Thus, his above acts call for action for contempt of court under Article 204 of the Constitution read with section 3 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003. Therefore, Notice be issued to him to appear on 2.8.2013 and explain as to why proceedings as envisaged by above provisions of the Constitution and law be not initiated against him. Notice be also issued to the learned Attorney General for Pakistan,” said the notice.
While talking to media persons outside the Parliament House in Islamabad on July 26, the PTI chief alleged that the May 11 polls were badly rigged despite being supervised by the judiciary and the Election Commission.
Pakistan’s Attorney General Munir A. Malik has also been summoned to appear before the bench with related records on Friday.
Meanwhile, PTI’s senior leader Shafqat Mehmood has said the party will not seek a pardon and defend their case lawfully.
