By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court on Monday accepted former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s written apology for comments he made against a female judge in August and dropped a contempt of court case against him, lawyers said.
The five-member bench, led by Chief Justice Athar Minallah, expressed its satisfaction with the apology on Monday, adding that the verdict was unanimous.
The Court had deferred Khan’s indictment over the contempt case after he apologised to the court in person late last month.
“Imran Khan extended his apology in honour and respect for the judiciary, and the court today reciprocated by discharging the case against him,” defence lawyer Faisal Chaudhry.
Khan was charged with contempt of court following a speech he made at a public rally in Islamabad on August 20, during which he threatened “action” against Judge Zeba Chaudhry and senior Islamabad police officials for arresting his top aide Shahbaz Gill, whom he accused police of torturing in custody.
Gill was charged with attempting to incite a mutiny in Pakistan’s powerful military after remarks made on a TV show.
Khan had initially refused to apologise for his comments but did so eventually, in the last hearing on September 22.
If he had been convicted, he could have been disqualified from running in the next election, which is scheduled for October next year.
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