Imran in the dock: SC to hear contempt case today

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Teheek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan will appear before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in a contempt of court hearing today (Friday).

The bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaundy, Justice Jawad S Khuwaja and Justice Azmat Saaed would hear the case.

Senior lawyer and PTI leader Hamid Khan will represent Mr Khan before the court, which slapped the cricketer-turned politician with a contempt notice for making critical and derogatory remarks against the institution.

The SC issued him notice to appear before it on August 2 and explain as to why contempt of court proceedings may not be initiated against him.

Khan had criticized the role of the top court and the Election Commission of Pakistan in the conduct of the recently held general election, which saw Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N emerging as the single largest party in the National Assembly.

Sources in the PTI said that Imran Khan spent a busy day on Thursday with his legal advisors for consultation over the imminent proceedings in the court.

Khan, who appeared defiant ahead of the hearing, said that he would not extend apology over his stance and would stand firm as he was struggling for the democracy in Pakistan.