Tag: unconditional apology

  • ‘Unconditional apology on TV, print and social media’: PPP sends Rs10 bn legal notice to Khan

    ‘Unconditional apology on TV, print and social media’: PPP sends Rs10 bn legal notice to Khan

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has sent a legal notice to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for levelling “baseless allegations” against former President Asif Ali Zardari.

    “You are…. called upon to render unconditional apology from our client, on television, print and social media, within 14 (fourteen) days from the receipt of this notice, failing whereof, our client shall be constrained to institute appropriate legal proceedings against you, civil as well as criminal, before the competent courts of law and forums of Pakistan as well as of England, including but not limited to Suit for Damages for Rs.10,000,000,000/- (Rupees ten billion Only) at your risk as to cost and consequences,” said the notice.

    The notice contends that the PTI chief through his “baseless accusations” tried to create a link between Zardari and terrorist organisations “blindly disregarding the fact that our client and his party has remained the victim of terrorism”.

    The notice also reads that the PTI chief through his “defamatory actions” caused “severe agony, mental stress and loss of reputation” to the PPP co-chairperson.

    Imran Khan had alleged on Friday, January 27, in a televised speech, that Zardari was plotting and financing an assassination attempt for which the ex-president had hired terrorists.

    Khan had claimed that four people orchestrated a plan “behind closed doors” to assassinate him.

    “I got to know about it and then I recorded a video explaining the attack. In a public rally, I announced that I would release the video if something happened to me. They stepped back after this,” said Khan.

    Without naming anyone again, Khan said that another plan was made to have me killed by a religious extremist — hinting towards the November 3, 2022, Wazirabad attack, where he was shot in the legs and is still recovering from his injuries.

    “Now, there’s a Plan C. Asif Zardari is behind it. He has amassed a lot of money through corruption, invested that money with terrorists and hired a militant organisation.”

  • ‘Willing to apologise’: Khan again avoided unconditional apology for his controversial remarks against female judge

    ‘Willing to apologise’: Khan again avoided unconditional apology for his controversial remarks against female judge

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan submitted an affidavit to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a contempt of court case against him, saying he had realised he “Might have crossed a line” in his controversial remarks regarding Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry.

    However, it is pertinent to mention that, for the third time now, Khan has avoided tendering an unconditional apology to the court.

    The affidavit says: “Imran Khan realised that during these proceedings before the Honourable Court, he might have crossed a red line while making a public speech on August 20, 2022.”

    According to the document, it was never his intention “To threaten the honourable judge of the district court and there was no intention behind the statement to take any action other than a legal action.”

    He said he wanted to assure the IHC that he was willing to explain and clarify before Judge Chaudhry that “Neither he nor his party seeks/sought any action“ against her and he was willing apologise to her “If she got an impression that the deponent (Imran) had crossed a line”.

    Khan assured the IHC that he would “Never do anything in future” that would hurt the dignity of any court and the judiciary, especially the lower judiciary.

    The next hearing of the case is scheduled for October 3, when IHC will review Khan’s response.

    Prior to this, Khan went to the court of Zeba Chaudhry to apologise for his remarks against her at a public rally. She was on leave at the time.

    Earlier this month, the high court decided to frame charges against Khan in a contempt of court case registered against him for his controversial remarks about Zeba.

    However, after many delays, Khan apologised to the high court, saying, “Mai khaatoon judge se zaati taur pe maafi maangta hoon”, (I personally apologise to the female judge).

    Following this, the high court remarked that it would not be appropriate to conduct contempt proceedings against Khan.

    In August, Khan addressed a party rally to express solidarity with then-arrested PTI’s Shahbaz Gill and threatened Chaudhry. He said, “Zeba! Be ready, we will take action against you”.

  • ‘Mai maafi maangta hoon agar meri taraf se koyi line cross huvi hai’: Imran Khan

    ‘Mai maafi maangta hoon agar meri taraf se koyi line cross huvi hai’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that he apologizes if he crossed any line.

    Speaking to the court, Khan said, “Mai khaatoon judge se zaati taur pe maafi maangta hoon,” (I personally apologize to the female judge).

    “I assure the court that I will not do something like this in the future,” he added.

    Khan was attending proceedings of a contempt of court case today (Thursday), for his controversial remarks about Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a rally in Islamabad on August 20. The former Prime Minister said that he will personally apologise to the the female judge.

    The IHC was expected to formally indict him today.

    Following this, the IHC CJ remarked that it would not be appropriate to conduct contempt proceedings. The court decided to not indict the PTI chief after he agreed to apologise to Judge Chaudhry and the hearing was subsequently adjourned.

    The court also directed the PTI chief to submit an affidavit.

    As he made his way inside the court along with party leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar and Shibli Faraz, Imran was surrounded by reporters asking questions. However, he chose to stay silent when asked whether or not he would tender an unconditional apology, answering only with a smile.

    On a lighter note, he remarked that he would become an “expert” due to the sheer number of cases registered against him.

    The IHC in a circular had stated that the proceedings of the case will start at 2:30pm, during which a larger bench of the IHC will frame the charges against Khan.

    “A 15-member legal team of Imran Khan, 15 law officers from the office of the attorney-general and advocate-general will be allowed to enter the courtroom,” read the circular.

    “Imran Khan’s response was unsatisfactory,” said IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, in the last hearing.

    Justice Minal­lah observed that Khan’s replies to the court’s show-cause notice appeared to be “Justifying contempt of the judiciary” and showed “No remorse or regret”.

  • Khan files new plea ahead of court hearing in contempt case

    Khan files new plea ahead of court hearing in contempt case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) is scheduled to resume hearing on Thursday the contempt of court case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for threatening a female District and Sessions Judge, Zeba Chaudhry

    A five-member bench headed by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah will hear the case at 2:30 pm. The PTI chairman will appear before the court in person amid strict security.

    Hours before the proceeding, Khan filed a new plea at the high court. He argued that the high court cannot exercise suo moto jurisdiction as per the Constitution. The arguments on the inadmissibility of the contempt case should be kept on record.

    “The written arguments will also be explained in the oral arguments during the course of the proceedings,” read the plea.

    A day earlier to the proceedings, Khan submitted a fresh response to the contempt of court case, in which in he expressed deep regret for his words.

    In a 19-page-long document, Khan told the court that it should discharge the notice based on his explanation and follow the Islamic principles of forgiveness.

    “That the purpose of the contempt law is not to punish anyone but to uphold the majesty of law. The respondent [Khan] believes in the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution,” the response said.

    “The respondent 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 the shocking news of the physical torture of Shahbaz Gill.”

    However, the submitted reply fell short of offering an unconditional apology.

    IHC on August 31 had directed the former prime minister to resubmit his response, giving him seven days to hand in the new draft. During the proceedings, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah had said he was “disappointed” by the written response submitted by Khan. He asked him to review it and submit it once more.

  • Imran Khan expresses ‘deep regret’ over threatening female judge, dodges unconditional apology

    Imran Khan expresses ‘deep regret’ over threatening female judge, dodges unconditional apology

    Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, expressed “deep regret” over his “unintentional utterances” in an additional reply in response to the show-cause notice issued to him by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for threatening a judge Zeba Chaudhary during a rally in Islamabad on August 20.

    However, the submitted reply fell short of offering an unconditional apology.

    IHC on August 31 had directed the former Prime Minister to resubmit his response, giving him seven days to hand in the new draft.

    During the proceedings, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah had said he was “disappointed” by the written response submitted by Khan. He asked him to review it and submit it once more.

    In a 19-page-long document, Khan told the court that it should discharge the notice based on his explanation and follow the Islamic principles of forgiveness.

    “That the purpose of the contempt law is not to punish anyone but to uphold the majesty of law. The respondent [Khan] believes in the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution,” the response said.

    “The respondent 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 the shocking news of the physical torture of Shahbaz Gill.”

    PTI’s Chief of Staff, Shahbaz Gill, has been under arrest since August 9 for allegedly inciting mutiny within the Pakistan army. Gill has alleged that he was tortured while in custody.

    In his resubmitted reply, Khan said that the utterances were “unintentional” and not meant to be directed towards the female judge for whom he has “a lot of respect”.

    Khan said that he 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 he think of doing so. The respondent has respect for the judiciary including the Subordinate judiciary and he believes that judges of the Subordinate/ District judiciary should be strong and independent in order to dispense justice to the common man,” the response added.

    In the end, the PTI chairman appealed to the court to discharge the contempt notice issued to him.

  • ‘Get out from here’: SC reinstates Murtaza Wahab as Administrator Karachi after unconditional apology

    ‘Get out from here’: SC reinstates Murtaza Wahab as Administrator Karachi after unconditional apology

    The Supreme Court (SC) took back its order for the removal of Murtaza Wahab from the post of Administrator Karachi after he tendered an “unconditional apology” during a hearing of the Gutter Baghicha case at the Karachi Registry on Monday.

    The court directed that the post of administrator be “kept away from politics” and instructed Wahab to fulfill his responsibilities while remaining above “political affiliation and pressure”.

    Earlier, a two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Qazi Mohammad Amin issued a directive for Wahab’s removal after a heated exchange with him.

    Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan, Advocate General of Sindh Salman Talib Ud Din, Karachi Commissioner Iqbal Memon, Wahab, and Senior Director of the anti-encroachment department Bashir Siddiqui were present during today’s hearing.

    During the hearing of a matter related to the Gutter Baghicha park, Justice Amin, while addressing Wahab remarked, “These are state lands [and] not your personal property. [You will] have to return them. If we don’t take them [back] then someone else will. You will return the lands.”

    “Should we leave the government?” Wahab questioned, saying that major observations are made about the provincial government by the court.

    “Silence yourself mister, what are you saying? Don’t do politics here,” the chief justice reprimanded Wahab.

    “Get out from here. We will fire you right now. Are you an administrator or a political leader?” Justice Gulzar questioned. 

    “The administrator, prima facie, failed to perform his duties. The administrator’s behaviour is that of political leaders [and] not of serving the citizens,” the chief justice remarked.

    “Go and transfer Bin Qasim park [and] Hill park in your name. Take Frere [Hall] park too. How many parks are there in Karachi? Finish them now. Distribute the few remaining parks among your officers as well,” the chief justice scolded Wahab.

    “Is Karachi your personal property?” he questioned.

    Murtaza Wahab later apologised to the court for using harsh words.

    “I apologise for my behavior,” Wahab said.

    Justice Qazi Amin remarked that they have removed him [Wahab] from office. “You are no longer an administrator. You are not part of the state but the government,” he said.

    Wahab, while speaking to the media during a break in the hearing, said that he accepted whatever the court’s decision would be.

    He said that he has apologised to the court. “I was stating my opinion with great respect,” said Wahab, adding that this court is his own court.

    “[A person] should be heard before issuing a decision against them,” Wahab said as he looked forward to the court’s final decision after the break.

    The court later accepted the apology of Murtaza Wahab after a short break in the proceedings and withdrew the order to remove him from office.