SC to hear contempt of court plea filed by interior ministry against Imran Khan on Wednesday


ISLAMABAD, Oct 22 (SABAH): Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has fixed the next week for hearing of  contempt of court case against former prime minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan. 

A five-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Khan Afridi and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi will conduct hearing of contempt of court’s petition filed by Ministry of Interior against Imran Khan  on Wednesday (October 26) at 1:00 PM.

Federation through secretary interior had filed a petition to stop proposed long march of Imran Khan and for initiating contempt of court proceedings against him whereas a special bench headed by CJP Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah will conduct hearing of a petition filed by PTI against the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) amendment ordinance.

Imran Khan through secretary law and justice division made the federation party in the petition. On the behalf of Imran Khan, Khawaja Haris Ahmad will keep continue presenting his arguments whereas senior lawyer Makhdoom Ali Khan and Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Ashtar Ausaf Ali will present arguments on the behalf of federation. Additional prosecutor general will argue on the behalf of NAB. 

A five-member bench headed by CJP Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Khan Afridi and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail will conduct initial hearing of Presidential reference under Article 186 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the Reko Diq issue sent by President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi on the advice of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. The court ordered additional attorney general to be present during the course of hearing while the hearing will be held at 1:00 PM on 25th October (Tuesday).

Another three-member bench headed by CJP Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha A. Malik will conduct hearing on a petition filed by PTI leader and former federal minister Muhammad Faisal Vawda against his disqualification for life by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on the matter of hiding dual citizenship under Article 62 (1) (f) on Thursday (October 27). Faisal Vawda made the ECP and others party through secretary of the Commission whereas senior lawyer Barrister Waseem Sajjad will present arguments from his side, and Sajeel Shehryar Swati will appear before the court on behalf of ECP. Senator Farooq Hamid Naek will appear before the court on the behalf of Pakistan People’s Party’s Sindh President Senator Nisar Ahmed Khuhro. The court also issued notice to AGP Ashtar Ausaf Ali for assistance.

Ten benches were formed for hearing during the coming week including two five member larger benches, three-member benches and other two-member benches. All the benches will conduct hearing of cases at principal seat of Islamabad. A three-member bench headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha A. Malik will conduct hearing during October 24 to October 28.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail will conduct hearing of cases from October 24 to October 28. A three-member bench headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazahir will conduct hearing of cases from October 24 to October 26. A three-member bench headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan and consisting of Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi will conduct hearing of cases from October 24 to October 26.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and comprising Justice Ayesha A. Malik will conduct hearing of cases from October 24 to October 27 after 11:30 AM. A two-member bench headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan will conduct hearing of cases at October 27 and October 28 whereas two-member bench headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan and comprising Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi will conduct hearing at October 27 and October 28.