PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan on Thursday submitted a written reply to a show cause notice issued to him by the Peshawar High Court regarding his alleged criticism of the court over the suspension of the functioning of dispute resolution councils in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In the reply, Imran said he had utmost respect for the courts and reporting on the issue of dispute resolution councils (DRCs) was result of some misunderstanding.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Haider Ali Khan was presented a two-page written reply carrying signatures of Imran Khan stating that he was for the independence of judiciary and therefore, he could not criticise the working of courts.

“I have the highest respect for the courts and I cannot even think of criticising it. While praising the work of DRCs, all I said was that efforts will be made to vacate the interim order.”

During previous hearing on June 2 the court had expressed displeasure over a statement of Imran Khan and had issued show cause notice to him through the advocate general directing him to clarify his position. The bench on Thursday also extended a stay order suspending the functioning of the DRCs in the province till Sept 17, the next date of hearing of a petition filed by citizen Qaisar Ali who was aggrieved with an order of one of the DRCs.

In the controversial statement of Imran Khan issued by the PTI Media Cell, it was stated: “Chairman Imran Khan today expressed dismay over the stay order granted by the Peshawar High Court against the Dispute Resolution Committees formed in KP at village levels in the local thanas.” — Bureau Report

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2015

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