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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday ordered Imran Khan to resubmit his reply before August 28 in a case pertaining to the contempt of court notice issued to the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) chief and adjourned the hearing to the said date.
Pakistan’s top court had issued a notice to the PTI chief over his “critical and derogatory” remarks against the judiciary and judges of the apex court. It said that Mr Khan apparently had tried to incite hatred against the apex court in one of his interactions with the media.
A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing the case today.
During the hearing, Hamid Khan, the counsel for Imran, told the apex court that his client could not even think of committing contempt of court.
Chief Justice Iftikhar asked Hamid whether he had prepared a written response to the contempt of court notice issued against his client.
Hamid submitted a short reply, which said that Khan’s remarks were aimed at the Election Commission of Pakistan and not the Supreme Court.
The bench had termed the counsel's reply as unsatisfactory and adjourned the hearing to 11:30 am.
Later, in a one-page written response submitted to the apex court, Khan reiterated his earlier stance that his remarks were targeting the ECP and not the judiciary.
The PTI chief, in his reply, stated that 45 days had passed since the May 11 elections and no one from the Election Commission of Pakistan was paying any heed to his complaints regarding failure to conduct free and fair elections.
Khan also mentioned the various struggles he had undertaken during the movement for the restoration of the judiciary.
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Comments (42) Closed
Aug 02, 2013 10:31am
PTI walas heads should hang in shame after inflicting disgrace to the higher judiciary. Instead sowing respect towards the judiciary Imran Khan was posing like " SULTAN RAHI" Shamefull.
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Aug 02, 2013 10:46am
It's very easy to cheer the power chair and its very hard to live a life without that PM chair , The dilemma for most of the politicians is they start blame game, so did the legendary IK. The level he set for himself and PTI day by day loosing its grip and getting away from the stake holder table.
Cheif Justice if haven taken any notice there must be SOME REASON to do so. Rest media hype is always there behind every issue. IK should bring himself in-front rather than just crying over rigging rigging and rigging. Go and face court and defend yourself . what else more you require if Aitzaz Ahsan offered you help as well :) . This is pakistani politics !
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Aug 02, 2013 10:57am
than why he up to yesterday was claiming he will stand what he said?
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Aug 02, 2013 11:13am
hamid khan will sink his client permanently.
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Aug 02, 2013 12:12pm
I am not a fan of Imran Khan at all but this is how a judicial dictatorship looks like. Every higher court around the world is open to criticism except the ones in Pakistan.
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Aug 02, 2013 12:29pm
BRAVE IMRAN KHAN READY TO BE DISQUALIFIED BUT NOT TO APOLOGISE TO SUPREME COURT.
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Aug 02, 2013 01:30pm
I am a big IK fan and supporter but honestly I didn't like his apologetic stance in court I don't think you can play hide and seek with superior judges,we all and judges know he is unhappy with supreme court and not with the smaller courts. if I was a judge i would have liked him to speak his heart out like he usually does in public and not worrying about the consequences. and just to add that my eleven year old son can come up with a better answer than Hamid Khan did.
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Aug 02, 2013 01:41pm
Weldone khan.You have done very good decision by not apologising
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Aug 02, 2013 02:31pm
Regading the case, I think both the parties Imran Khan and SC are right. we understand that Mr. Khan's statement given to the media was due to the frustration PTI is facing becaus no one there to hear them. I suggest that Mr. Imran Khan should write these words to statisfy the court,"That the statement was not meant to insult the APEX court, however, if the court thinks that my statement was meant to insult the court and bring hatred against the court then, I appologies for that, I did not meant it and would never mean to bring down the judiciary for which I and my party have also sacrificed. PTI as a political party completely supports an independent Judicial system in the country and also seek support from the respected courts to assist the finding of rigging in the May 11 elections."
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Aug 02, 2013 02:55pm
Chief justice has enough time to hear such useless cases while ignoring other critical issues pending in the courts.
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Aug 02, 2013 03:15pm
what Khan said is true. He should not repent and stand bold. No body is above law and if there is perception among masses about institutions of not being neutral then institutions should set their own house in order
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Aug 02, 2013 04:00pm
What has made judiciary immune from remarks. Isn't it run by normal human beings or are they angles of God
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Aug 02, 2013 04:08pm
The article ends with an incomplete sentence "Meanwhile, the SU" ...
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Aug 02, 2013 07:47pm
Khan didn't commit contempt. That's all being imposed on him. Where was the apex court and their judges,when each and every party except one or two were complaining about rigging even with video evidences? Why did he take suo moto then? Every insititution in Pakistan is corrupt in one way or other,as has become the judiciary. That was also apex court's responsibility to alleviate the doubts,if ECP was not responding,
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Aug 02, 2013 08:04pm
The SC judges are just corrupt like the rest of judges in Paksitan.
It's shame. That the person who is fighting for their supremacy they want to make trouble for him. God denm sc judges.
Imran khan is the only hope for this unlucky nation and these corrupt elite want him to silence.
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Aug 02, 2013 08:19pm
Since when does the non elected court have power over the elected officials. Why is the contempt of court definition so broad that it curbs our ability, citizens of Pakistan, to exercise our freedom of speech and criticize the decisions of the court. Also as far as my understanding of the court is that it should not be a party to its own case as per the Latin axiom Nemo iudex in causa sua. the supreme courts of Pakistan should have no other purpose then to protect the rights of the citizens of Pakistan. It cannot be used and it should not be used as a "Dera" for egoistic grudges against the elected men of Pakistan, who represent the "will" of the people.
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Aug 02, 2013 08:24pm
Chief Justice Iftikhar Justice is to retire this year and is interested in the extension of his tenure. He is bestowing his favors on Nawaz Shariff from day one. This notice is no surprise.
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Aug 02, 2013 09:19pm
I wish Imran had not uttered what is reported and Judiciary was not forced to take the notice of it. Both Imran and Chief Justice of Pakistan are the icons and hope for Pakistan and they make us proud. Any erosion of their standing in our society will not be in the best interest of Pakistan. Hopefully the issue will be resolved without causing any major damage.
Judiciary under the present Chief Justice can not be taken lightly by any one and very rightly so.
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Aug 02, 2013 09:41pm
Jinnah would've been revolted of a Judiciary that has an overt political agenda; where is freedom of speech? As a citizen, Imran is entitled - though he did not do so - to criticize the Judiciary. They're public servants, and sure, Imran is a lawmaker; but that doesn't not hinder his ability to hold to account public institutions, in fact, one could say it **emboldens** that it into a central role for his position.
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Aug 02, 2013 10:33pm
About the judiciary of Pakistan comes in my mind a line from Ghalib :
"bazeechay-e itfaal hai dunya meray aagay"
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Aug 02, 2013 11:38pm
Agree with Khan that Pakistani Judiciary is unique despite being amongst the most corrupt in the world. I think we need somebody to stand up and tell them on their face of the facts. If the Chief Justice really thinks that he is honest and above all then please bring your Son to book
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Aug 02, 2013 11:53pm
Iftikhar Chaudhry has brought shame to Pakistan. His unfair dealings are crystal clear why he saved Arsalan his son? Why he did not go to jail? Arsalan took money and did fraud. Iftikhar Chaudhry saved Noora from Asghar khan case and from thousand other cases including massive rigging. Allah is watching you Iftikhar Allah will give you punishment for all this, I pro use you your cousin Rana Sanaullah will not be able to save you from Allah's wrath
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Aug 03, 2013 12:36am
@muzammil ullah khan:
He nearly sank Fauzia Kasoori and now he is handling Imran Khan, allah khair kere
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Aug 03, 2013 01:03am
Is there anyone left in Pakistan who can claim to be clean and pious? I mean all those who are involved in politics, in power, and in government. We have a culture where corrupts flourish, think of our leaders, bureaucrats, generals, and now judiciary. Chief Justice Chaudry should think about his method of handling the decision on Presidential election. I am not a fan of our corrupt leaders, but Chaudry's decision is pathetic.
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Aug 03, 2013 01:26am
Everyone in Pakistan is after his or her ego,supreme court judges are not an exception,although,they should`nt meddle in petty affairs of day to day statements and should be above the civic standard of a common Pakistani.This is very unfortunate,our elite class including judges are circling around their egos and they don`t look around the so called global village what`s going on.Murtaza Malik.
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Aug 03, 2013 01:44am
We are done with Elections so move on. If IK is sincere then advised to work hard solving the public problems for which you are elected. AND, CJ, please focus on disposing cases pending in the courts rather poking nose in all political matters (leave that on politicians - good or bad, people have elected them).
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Aug 03, 2013 02:07am
There is a struggle happening in Pakistan where the public and democratic minded people of Pakistan are now realising that state status quo has many different forms aka. judiciary, army and government who in not way are willing to have a fair game in Pakistan.
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Aug 03, 2013 02:09am
@S. Samad Khokhar:
Unfortunately the Pakistani supreme court and election commission have no intention to let Pakistanis have a fair representative government as it is against the will of Masters.
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Aug 03, 2013 02:32am
@muzammil ullah khan:
It does not matter which ever lawyer is there, CJ is deaf. He only does what he wants to do.. stick his nose everywhere and make decisions knowing no one will challenge his decision.. if anyone does .. he will take suo motto action against him/her. Wow.. isn't this a dictatorship?.
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Aug 03, 2013 02:38am
@Yousaf:
if you are in england and you say a word against the queen you will be punished by the law... same applies if you are in UAE and say something against His Higness... so please explore first before commenting...
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Aug 03, 2013 03:34am
IK can say that he did not attempt to bring the SC into disrepute, but express 'regret' at the wrong 'perception' his statement may have created. In this way both can avoid a conflict which is unnecessary
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Aug 03, 2013 03:48am
Everybody who watch TV know what Imran Khan said about courts.And it was not wrong.But if same thing was said by PPP leader,situation would have been totally different.Response of courts would have been much aggressive.In this case nothing will happen.It will finish with muk mooka.NOORA KHUSHTEE.
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Aug 03, 2013 04:17am
I am from PTI and am proud of it.But I wish and pray for my leader to behave with maturity,its not wise to waste one's talent and energies in gainless activities.Look forward to deliver and prove your worth instead of challenging all.For in this pursuit we may lose what we have gained so for.
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Aug 03, 2013 05:53am
Imran Khan should submit his reply
I regret and apologize using the word "shameful" for the role of election commission and judiciary in rigging the elections. I made a mistake and ask for forgiveness. Now I and the whole nation laud the role of election commission and judiciary in rigging the election and not taking notice of the massive rigging. I am sorry for asking the supreme court to do justice and take action against those who stole people's mandate.
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Aug 03, 2013 06:27am
@jamki:
I agree. It is time to reform Judiciary, and IK case provides us all the opportunity to influence such reform. What IK said is true. I stand by him.
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Aug 03, 2013 06:32am
@SM ZAKI:
Shame on those, who attached Supreme Court in 1997, or who did not obey SC orders. IK is a clean man. He is providing Pakistanis an opportunity to help bring about judicial reforms, that are essential for a New Pakistan. Other than that, those should be shamed who do Noora Kushtis, and do rigging in pollings.
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Aug 03, 2013 10:08am
Imran Khan should submit his reply
I regret and apologize using the word "shameful" for the role of election commission and judiciary in rigging the elections. I made a mistake and ask for forgiveness. Now I and the whole nation laud the role of election commission and judiciary in rigging the election and not taking notice of the massive rigging. I am sorry for asking the supreme court to do justice and take action against those who stole people's mandate.
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Aug 03, 2013 01:01pm
IK must stop his habit of mudslinging on national institutions / opponents, and start talking in terms of achievements of PTI if any in case he intends to improve PTI performance in the next national elections after 5 years.
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Aug 03, 2013 01:07pm
Imran Khan should submit his reply
I regret and apologize using the word "shameful" for the role of election commission and judiciary in rigging the elections. I made a mistake and ask for forgiveness. Now I and the whole nation laud the role of election commission and judiciary in rigging the election and not taking notice of the massive rigging. I am sorry for asking the supreme court to do justice and take action against those who stole people's mandate.
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Aug 03, 2013 01:46pm
The bubble has burst!
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Aug 04, 2013 04:09pm
The freedom of speech is the basic right of every Pakistani as long as it does not do any harm to others! Imran Khan did no such harm, all he did was point out the Mistakes and said its an Embarrassment that the Judiciary was biased and he has all the right to say so. In the past when the Judiciary was right Musharraf had to step back, this time Imran is right and the Judiciary has the same Musharraf Ego (Might is Right) attitude, if they don't learn and step back I am afraid that they will damage their respect and this will push them far behind once more.
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Aug 04, 2013 11:38pm
Though Imran Khan's intention is no doubt good,still I think he should control his temper little bit before talking.Now he is a senior political figure in Pakistan and should not behave like immature person.Every time he should not speak in hot headed language,but careful language
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