IHC dismisses contempt of court petition against PM

• The petition came following the PM's speech at inaugural ceremony of Havelian-Mansehra section of the Hazara motorway at Havelian.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) rejected on Tuesday a petition accusing Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan of contempt of court for his 'controversial' remarks on the judiciary.

During the proceedings, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked the petitioner what problem he has regarding one of prime minister's recent speech. The petitioner accused the premier of ridiculing the judiciary. The justice asked the petitioner if he knew the outcome of such a move to want a trial against an elected premier.

"Do you want the trial of an elected prime minister? Do you want the prime minister to be disqualified?” Justice Minallah said. The bench had reserved its verdict and adjourned the hearing.

Advocate Saleemullah Khan had filed a petition in the court against the premier on Monday. The petition came following the PM's recent speech at the inaugural ceremony of Havelian-Mansehra section of the Hazara motorway at Havelian.

https://www.brecorder.com/2019/11/20/546044/dont-blame-judiciary-for-your-own-failures-says-cj-khosa/

In his speech, the PM asked Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa and other judges to come forward and restore public confidence in the judiciary. The PM's statements came days after the Lahore High Court allowed  Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad for four weeks for medical treatment.

The CJP had also taken notice of the PM's speech and replied to him that it was the government that allowed Sharif to travel abroad for medical treatment. “Only law is more powerful than anything else in judiciary's view. Don't criticize the judiciary for the decision," he said.