IHC announces verdict in contempt of court petition against PM Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against Prime Minister Imran Khan for his recent remarks against the judiciary.

The court had earlier reserved its verdict on the maintainability of the petition. The petition, filed by Advocate Saleemullah Khan, had argued that the premier has “committed serious contempt”.

Imran, reportedly displeased with the Lahore High Court’s decision to let Nawaz Sharif go abroad for his medical treatment, had appealed to Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and his successor to “restore” the public’s trust in the judiciary.

The remarks did not go down well with the judiciary as the chief justice made a scathing rejoinder advising Imran not to “taunt the judiciary” in any way.

“I do not want to comment on the particular case [of Nawaz Sharif], which the prime minister had referred to but he [PM] will be aware that he himself gave [Nawaz] permission to go abroad.

“That’s why he should refrain from making such statements. No one is perfect. We are changing. Don’t compare us with the judiciary which had existed before 2009,” said Justice Khosa.