ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan Wednesday has disposed the contempt of court notice against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman, Imran Khan.
A two member bench of the apex court resumed hearing of the contempt notice against the PTI chairman for using the word ‘Sharamnak’ (shameful) in reference to the judiciary during a news conference.
Appearing before the Supreme Court, Khan said he never criticised the senior judiciary and that undermining the supremacy of the judiciary was akin to undermining democracy. “Why is it being misconstrued?... I only referred to the returning officers and never named the Supreme Court of superior judiciary,” Khan told the court.
“My entire struggle has been focused on an independent justice system,” he added.
During proceedings, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali remarked what the outcome would be if national leaders did not safeguard the dignity of prestigious institutions. Justice Jamali said that if the court decided that the word ‘Sharamnak’ is not an abusive word, then it will set an example, adding that the dictionary could be consulted for its meaning. Justice Jamali then suggested to review the reply and urged to take a respectable stance.
Speaking to the media after the disposal of the contempt notice, Khan thanked the attorney general for giving a statement in his favour. He said that all judges and courts are respectable and he had not said anything against the superior judiciary.
Imran Khan reiterated that he had used ‘Sharamnak’ for returning officers in reference to their performance during the May 11 general elections.
On Tuesday, Imran Khan had submitted a detailed reply in which he insisted that the word ‘Sharamnak’ was not abusive and he did not use it for the judiciary. The 21-page reply submitted by Khan through his lawyers stated that the PTI chairman had not committed contempt and the notice against him should be discharged.
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