ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has been dragged into the Supreme Court by two lawyers for ridiculing in his media outburst the apex court, particularly former chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

The petitioners — Islamabad Bar Association’s President Naseer Ahmad Kayani and General Secretary Chaudhry M. Naeem Ali Gujar — have requested the court to initiate contempt proceedings against Mr Khan under Article 204 of the Constitution for “abusing, scandalising, ridiculing and bringing disrespect and hatred to the Supreme Court and the former chief justice”.

The petitioners have cited several press statements made by Imran Khan in which he had severely the former chief justice for his alleged role in rigging the last general elections. The statements amount to ridiculing him, they added.

Maligning the former chief justice and other judges of the Supreme Court, the petition alleges, amounts to obstructing the process of the court.

PTI chief is accused of bringing disrespect and hatred to apex court, former chief justice

It says that judges of the apex court under the prudent leadership of Iftikhar Chaudhry struggled hard with the help of lawyers, the media and the civil society for the independence of judiciary.

“The onslaught by the PTI chief to dispute the role of the former chief justice amounts to ridiculing and maligning the entire judiciary.”

Editorial: Imran Khan’s agitation

The petition recalls that Imran Khan was summoned in a contempt case by a Supreme Court bench headed by then chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry for his jibe against the judiciary which he had termed as ‘shameful’. But when Mr Khan was confronted with the proposition, he maintained that his remarks were not about the apex court but against the conduct of the district returning officers and returning officers. “It reveals how he distorts facts,” it says.

Therefore, the petition warns, if Mr Khan is allowed to proceed unchecked, respect, honour and even life of the former chief justice and other judges of the Supreme Court will not be safe, the petition warns.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2014