Supreme Court disposes of contempt of court petition against Imran Khan
CJP observes not wise to give verdict when political temperatures are high
May 26, 2022 03:08 PM
Making an observation that it would not be appropriate to give the ruling at a time when political temperatures in the country were high, the Supreme Court said on Thursday disposed of the contempt of court petition against former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan, saying that what the PTI workers had done yesterday on their way to Islamabad was not appropriate but there was no proof it was done on somebody’s orders, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
A five-member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial, heard the petition.
During the hearing of the petition, the CJP Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that the yesterday’s events had shaken the apex court’s confidence in political parties. “I hope that the PTI will be aware of its responsibilities. These were only the party workers who were present on the roads while the leaders were absent,” he said, and asked the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) to convey to the government that it should also act within the parameters of the constitution.
“However, the court will now devise a course of action for the future which will be a guideline for others,” he said.
He, on the occasion, inquired from the AGP whether roads had been opened for the traffic; had people been released from prisons, and was the government prepared to reserve a ground for the PTI’s public gathering?
The AGP replied that some of the roads had been opened.
He went on to add that the government was ready, but these were the PTI leaders who did not reach the venue reserved for the party’s gathering.
CJP Bandial remarked that the PTI, too, might have reservations over the government’s conduct. “What happened yesterday is now history,” he said, and made it clear that the order the court had given to the government not to arrest the PTI workers and their family members was given in public interest, and that order was still effective.
PTI leader hopes general elections will be announced very soon:
Later talking to the media, PTI leader Babar Awan said that the party chairman had given the six-day ultimatum to the government so that no one could have the justification to complain later.
He expressed the hope that the general elections would be announced very soon.
He said this was the first cabinet in the entire world whose most of the ministers, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, were on bail.
Reporter: Amanat Gishkori