WEB DESK
PTI Chief Imran Khan has expressed ‘deep regret’ over his ‘unintentional utterance’ against Islamabad Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry and has also offered to express ‘remorse’ to the woman judge, whom he had issued a threat during a public rally in Islamabad last month.
However, the PTI chief has stopped short of offering an unconditional apology to the judge — often a basic requirement in contempt of court cases.
Instead, he urged the court to discharge him from the case under the Islamic principles of forgiveness and restraint and on the basis of his claim that he was ‘not aware’ that he was commenting on a sub judice matter.
The Islamabad High Court had granted one week’s time to Imran Khan when a larger bench, headed by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the contempt of court case against the PTI chief on August 31 to submit a fresh reply. The court had declared his reply submitted to the court a day before the hearing as inappropriate.
In the past contempt of court cases have led to the disqualification of public office holders including former Prime Miniter Yousaf Raza Gillani. Experts believe Imran Khan also faces the same risk, especially over his failure to offer an unconditional apology.
The PTI chief opened his 10-page reply by expressing gratitude to the Islamabad High Court saying that he “gratefully acknowledges the indulgence shown by this Honorable Court in providing him an opportunity to reflect upon the whole issue and its significanc.”
The reply said that Imran Khan “takes this opportunity to express his deep regrets over his unintentional utterances during the course of his speech at a rally which was taken out in response to shocking news of physical torture of Mr. Shahbaz Gill.”
“It is stated with respect that those utterances were unintentional and not mean to be directed towards the lady judge for whom [Imran Khan] has a lot of respect,” the reply further read.
“The respondent never meant to hurt her feelings and if her feelings have been hurt, it is deeply regretted. The respondent neither meant to threaten the lady judge nor could be think of doing so,” the reply added.
After asserting that he had great regard for the lower judiciary and that he supported women’s rights in Pakistan, Imran Khan said that he assures the high court that he would “not shy away from expressing his remort to her.”
