ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday deferred indicting ex-premier Imran Khan for contempt of court after he apologized to the bench and said he was ready to say sorry to a woman judge he is accused of threatening during a speech last month.
A conviction in a contempt case can mean disqualification from politics for life since under Pakistani law a convicted person cannot run for office. Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and several members of Pakistani parliament have in the past been convicted of contempt and been disqualified from contesting elections for five years.
“I am ready to apologize to the female judge,” Khan told the court after taking the witness stand. “I assure the court that I will not do something like this in the future.”
The IHC chief justice Athar Minallah then remarked that it would not be “appropriate” to initiate contempt proceedings and adjourned the hearing in the case until October 3.
“We do appreciate whatever you [Imran Khan] have said,” the chief justice maintained. “We are not framing the charge.”
The top high court judge pointed out there was a legal requirement to fulfil before accepting or rejecting Khan’s apology.
“We certainly do appreciate that you’ve realized [your mistake],” he continued. “You may file an affidavit and we will consider it.”
Khan expressed his willingness to submit the affidavit and even asked the court to let him know if it wanted him to write anything beyond a simple apology in his affidavit.
“We are not dictating you anything,” said the chief justice in response. “It is your choice [whatever you want to write in the affidavit].”
“You may get help from the three amici curiae,” Justice Minallah added. “They can advise you what to write [in the affidavit].”
In a previous hearing, the court had appointed three eminent lawyers, Munir A. Malik, Makhdoom Ali Khan and Akhtar Hussain, to assist the court in the contempt proceedings. Two of them, Malik and Khan, were also present in the court today.
The court later issued a short order, saying: “We are, prima facie, satisfied with the apology rendered by the respondent. Let him file an affidavit for consideration of this Court before the next date fixed.”
The ex-premier was accompanied by his chief of staff, Senator Shibli Faraz, and senior party leader, Asad Umar, while entering the court.
However, security officials did not allow another senior party member Shah Mahmood Qureshi to attend the proceedings since he did not have an entry pass to the courtroom.
At the outset of the hearing, when the chief justice said the court was going to frame the charge against Khan, the former prime minister’s legal counsel, Hamid Khan, requested the five-member bench to allow his client to speak.
Khan said he had struggled for the rule of law and independence of judiciary in the country for 26 years and never wanted to threaten or hurt the feelings of the female judge.
“I never had an intention of threatening the female judge, but legal action has been started against me,” he said. “I can go to the female judge to clarify [my position] and apologize if I had crossed a certain red line.”
The ex-premier also assured the court he would not make any such mistake in the future.
“I assure you that I will never hurt the feelings of the judiciary and the judges in the future,” he added.
After the hearing, Attorney-General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf told Arab News he would first see the written response of the former prime minister in the contempt case and then devise a strategy on how to handle it.
“Let him first submit the written response, then we will see what to do,” he said.
Under Pakistani law, Khan’s last appearance on September 8 was a chance offered by the Islamabad High Court for the ousted premier to apologize unconditionally and avoid going to trial. But Khan insisted he had made no threats, in turn prompting the court to schedule the next hearing for September 22, today, saying it would indict him.
The charges against Khan relate to a speech last month at a rally in the capital, Islamabad, in which he said, according to a police report, that he “would not spare” Islamabad’s police chief and the female judge, alleging that his former chief of staff, Dr. Shahbaz Gill, had been tortured in police custody after being arrested on charges of sedition and ordered in police remand by the judge.
Police and prison authorities deny the allegation. Gill is now out on bail after being in custody for about a month.
Khan’s aides have described his legal woes as an attempt to knock him out “technically” after seeing his growing popularity among people at mass rallies since his ouster in April in a parliamentary no-confidence vote. The countrywide rallies, and threats of a mass march to Islamabad, are aimed at forcing the government of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to hold early elections.
Sharif has rejected the demand, saying the vote should take place as scheduled in 2023.
Khan, who served as prime minister for over three-and-a-half years, says the current government came to power under a plot orchestrated by the United States, which was allegedly peeved with his adoption of an independent foreign policy.
Washington has denied the charges.
Pakistan court defers contempt indictment as ex-PM Khan agrees to apologize to judge
https://arab.news/m6nda
Pakistan court defers contempt indictment as ex-PM Khan agrees to apologize to judge
- Khan is charged with threatening Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a rally speech
- The Islamabad High Court chief justice has asked Khan to file an affidavit of the apology to address the matter
Pakistan’s finmin vows to ‘accelerate’ privatization of state-owned assets ahead of IMF talks
- IMF official confirmed its delegation would arrive in Pakistan next week for talks on new loan program
- Among main entities, Pakistan is pushing to privatize its national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Sunday vowed to accelerate the privatization process of state-owned assets (SOEs) in Pakistan as Islamabad gears up to hold crucial talks for a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) next week.
Under the last $3 billion bailout package from the IMF that was critical in averting a sovereign debt default last year, the lender has said state-owned entities whose losses are burning a hole in government finances would need stronger governance. Pakistan is now negotiating with the IMF for a larger, longer program for which it must implement an ambitious reforms agenda, including the privatization of debt-ridden SOEs.
Among the main entities Pakistan is pushing to privatize is its national carrier, PIA. The government is putting on the block a stake ranging from 51 percent to 100 percent.
Aurangzeb’s latest statement comes a day after a top IMF official confirmed the lender would send a delegation to Pakistan next week to discuss the contours of another loan program with Islamabad.
“We will take this forward and there will also be public-private sector partnership in it,” Aurangzeb said about the privatization of SOEs at a pre-budget conference in Lahore.
“We will accelerate the privatization agenda.”
Aurangzeb said he and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar were on the “same wavelength” that there are no strategic SOEs.
“After a meeting tomorrow, we will go back to these ministries to say, ‘Hand over all of these [assets] to the private sector,’” he said.
The finance minister said investors’ confidence in the country’s economy was improving, crediting the government’s policies for the positive outcome.
Aurangzeb said Pakistan needed structural reforms, saying that the business community should be made a part of the tax net like the salaried class.
Pakistan’s key stock index crossed the 73,000 mark on Friday to close the weekend trading session at an all-time high, as investors banked on renewed hopes of an interest rate cut and improving economic indicators in the country.
Pakistan saw one of the highest inflation regimes last year, with 38 percent inflation recorded in May 2023, which eased to 17.3 percent this April. Pakistani analysts expect a further fall in May, renewing optimism of an interest rate cut from the current 22 percent in the upcoming monetary policy.
Pakistan’s ruling party calls for calm amid protests in Azad Kashmir
- One cop killed, at least 90 injured as protesters clash with police in Azad Kashmir on Saturday, say media reports
- Azad Kashmir protesters demand subsidized wheat flour, electricity as per hydrogeneration power cost in Azad Kashmir
ISLAMABAD: A senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party this week called for calm in Azad Kashmir, as fierce clashes between police and supporters of a rights movement demanding cheap electricity and subsidized wheat broke out in the area.
One cop succumbed to a gunshot wound while 90 others were injured on Saturday after clashes broke out between police and supporters of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in various parts of Kashmir, media reports said.
The protests turned violent when police attempted to stop a rally headed for Azad Kashmir capital Muzaffarabad via Kotli and Poonch districts. Protesters have been demanding the provision of electricity as per hydropower generation cost in Azad Kashmir, subsidized wheat flour and an end to the privileges of the elite, the Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported.
“The political situation that developed today [Saturday] in Azad Kashmir and the law-and-order situation that [deteriorated] it is not reasonable at all,” Shah Ghulam Qadir, the president of the PML-N’s Azad Kashmir chapter, said in a video message on Saturday.
Qadir said he spoke to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif about the deteriorating situation in the territory, adding that the premier was concerned.
“I would also like to urge the government of Azad Kashmir to open the door to negotiations and resolve all matters through talks,” Qadir said.
Media reports said around 70 JAAC activists were arrested by police during raids at their residences in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur divisions, triggering clashes in Dadyal on Thursday.
The committee had subsequently announced a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike on Friday, a day ahead of its long march toward Muzaffarabad on Saturday.
Former Azad Kashmir prime minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider took to social media platform X to offer his condolences for the police officer’s killing.
Ex-PM Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said in a statement that “continuous harassment and violence” against peaceful protesters in AJK is unacceptable and condemnable.
The Himalayan region of Kashmir has been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan since 1947 when the two countries gained independence from British colonial India. Two out of the three wars fought by the arch-rivals have been over Kashmir.
Both countries claim the territory in full but administer parts of it. The western portion of the larger Kashmir region is administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entity.
After shock defeat, Pakistan face Ireland in second T20I in Dublin today
- Ireland dealt massive blow to Pakistan on Friday when it beat visitors by five wickets
- Fast bowler Mohammad Amir expected to feature in today’s match against Ireland
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan cricket team will have its hands full with a confident Ireland squad today, Sunday, when it takes the field against the minnows for the second T20I of the series after suffering a shock defeat on Friday.
Ireland beat Pakistan for the first time in a T20I fixture in the series opener on Friday, courtesy of a heroic 77-run knock by Andy Balbirnie that helped the home side win by five wickets against Babar Azam’s squad.
The defeat was a blow for the South Asian squad as it prepares for the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled to take place from June 2 in the United States and West Indies, by playing separate cricket series against Ireland and England.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Dublin on Saturday to hold meetings with the team to boost their morale ahead of the second T20I.
“Immediately after arriving, he [Naqvi] held meetings with the team captain and coach,” the PCB said in a statement on Saturday. “He will also meet the team later today.”
Pakistan are most likely to play left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir in the playing XI against Ireland today. The bowler could not play the first T20I against Ireland as he arrived in the country on Friday due to visa delays.
After the Ireland series, Pakistan will travel to England to play a four-match series against the home side from May 22-30 in Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff and London before departing for the US for the mega event.
Pakistan will begin their World Cup campaign against the United States on June 6 before taking on arch-rivals India in a high-octane clash on June 9 in New York.
Squads:
Ireland: Paul Stirling (captain), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir (unavailable for first T20I), Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Khan
Pakistan deputy PM to head to China on Monday for talks on trade, economic cooperation
- Deputy PM Ishaq Dar to co-chair strategic dialogue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, says state media
- Beijing has been one of Islamabad’s most reliable partners in recent years, providing financial aid to its fragile economy
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will leave for China next week to hold important discussions on bilateral trade, cooperation and upgradation of multi-billion-dollar infrastructure corridor, state-run media reported on Sunday.
Beijing has been one of Islamabad’s most reliable foreign partners in recent years, readily providing financial assistance to bail out its often-struggling neighbor. In July last year, China granted Pakistan a two-year rollover on a $2.4 billion loan, giving the debt-saddled nation much-needed breathing space as it tackled a balance-of-payments crisis.
Dar will leave for Beijing on Monday for a four-day official trip during which he would also co-chair the 5th Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
“The two sides will comprehensively review Pakistan-China bilateral relations including economic and trade cooperation, high-level exchanges and visits; upgradation of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and future connectivity initiatives,” the state-run Radio Pakistan said.
China has invested over $65 billion in energy and infrastructure projects as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The project is part of President Xi Jinping’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. CPEC is designed to provide China with a shorter and safer trading route to the Middle East and beyond through Pakistan.
Since its initiation in 2013, CPEC has seen tens of billions of dollars funneled into massive transport, energy and infrastructure projects. But the undertaking has also been hit by Pakistan struggling to keep up its financial obligations as well as attacks on Chinese targets by militants.
“They will also exchange views on the unfolding regional geopolitical landscape and bilateral cooperation at the multilateral fora,” the state-run media reported.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Dar’s visit to the country reflects the importance the two countries attach to deepening their “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.”
Dar’s visit to China takes place in the backdrop of Pakistan’s moves to seek foreign investment from its allies as it tries to navigate an economic crisis that has seen its reserves dip to low levels and its currency weaken against the dollar.
Islamabad has seen visits by diplomatic and business delegations from Saudi Arabia, Japan and Uzbekistan in recent weeks. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to ensure an enabling business environment in Pakistan for foreign investors and traders.
Pakistan praises Saudi Arabia’s use of technology to enhance pilgrim experience with ‘flying taxis’
- Saudi authorities have announced plans to test ‘flying taxis and drones’ during this year’s Hajj season
- Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry says the kingdom has consistently increased its use of technology
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry on Saturday applauded Saudi Arabia for using advanced technology to improve the pilgrimage experience for Muslims, the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported, after the kingdom announced its plan to test “flying taxis and drones” during this Hajj season.
Saudi Minister for Transport and Logistics Saleh Al-Jasser spoke earlier this week about intense competition among transportation companies in the kingdom to provide the best traveling means to people. Previously, he also said the flying taxis and drones would be tested during Hajj to provide pilgrims with maximum comfort.
According to some reports, the Saudi Airlines was also considering plans to operate flying taxis to ferry Hajj pilgrims from the Jeddah airport to their hotels in Makkah.
“Saudi Arabia’s commitment to modernizing the pilgrimage experience through innovative technology demonstrates their dedication to ensuring pilgrims’ comfort and convenience,” Muhammad Umar, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry, said.
Umar, who has remained closely involved in his country’s Hajj operations since 2009, also mentioned how the Saudi authorities had introduced various mobile applications to help pilgrims.
“I have witnessed firsthand the dedication and efforts of the Saudi government in facilitating the sacred journey of millions of pilgrims,” he added.
He also highlighted significant improvements in crowd management and the provision of enhanced facilities to pilgrims by Saudi authorities over the years.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and requires every adult Muslim to undertake the journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime, if they are financially and physically able.
Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, according to the Pakistani religious affairs ministry. Of them, 63,805 pilgrims will be performing the pilgrimage under the government scheme, while the rest would be accommodated by private tour operators.
