“The respondent never meant to hurt her (Judge Chaudhry’s) feelings and if her feelings have been hurt, it is deeply regretted.”
By Naveed Naqvi
ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday expressed “deep regret” over his provocative remarks against a session judge but once again apparently fell short of tendering an unconditional apology in contempt of court case.
The ousted prime minister threatened to file cases against top police officials and a female judge over the treatment meted out to his aide Shahbaz Gill, who was arrested on charges of sedition.
During a PTI rally in Islamabad on August 20, Khan had also taken exception to additional district and sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry, who had approved Gill’s two-day physical remand at the request of the Islamabad police. The PTI chief said she should “prepare herself as the action would be taken against her.”
Hours after the speech, Khan was booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act for threatening police, judiciary, and other state institutions.
Later, a five-judge panel headed by Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah gave Khan until September 8 to answer the charges. The bench asked the former premier to submit a written response.
In his previous written response, Khan had denied threatening the judge, offering to take his words back if they were “inappropriate.”
In the supplementary reply, Khan stated that the remarks were “unintentional and not meant to be directed towards the lady judge for whom he has a lot of respect”.
“The respondent takes this opportunity to express his deep regrets over his unintentional utterances during the course of his speech at the rally which was taken out in response to the shocking news of physical torture of Mr. Shahbaz Gill,” Khan’s response, submitted by his lawyer, read.
“The respondent never meant to hurt her (Chaudhry’s) feelings and if her feelings have been hurt, it is deeply regretted.”
The former premier also assured the court that he has huge respect for the judiciary including the Subordinate judiciary and he … believes that judges of the Subordinate/District judiciary are performing vital functions for dispensation of justice”.
He had “enormous respect” for the judiciary, “stands firmly for the rights of women in Pakistan” and “strongly supports the idea of greater induction and representation of lady judges”.
“The Respondent also assures this Hon’ble Court that he would not shy away from expressing his remorse to her.”
Khan requested the court to discharge him from the case, citing the Islamic principles of forgiveness and restraint and also on the basis of his claim that he was “not aware” that he was commenting on a sub judice matter. He said he believed in the rule of law and supremacy of the constitution.
“It is submitted that the courts have always recognized and followed the Islamic principles of forgiveness and restraint. The respondent beseeches that the said Islamic principle of forgiveness would also be followed in this case.”
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
