PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday summoned Awami National Party’s provincial chief Aimal Wali Khan in a contempt plea filed for his recent alleged statements against the court.

A single-member bench comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan directed that the respondent should appear before it on Thursday (tomorrow) and explain his position.

The bench issued the order after preliminary hearing of the contempt petition filed by former MNA and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Fazal Mohammad Khan, requesting the court to initiate contempt proceedings against the ‘contemnor’ and to punish him accordingly.

The petitioner’s counsel Barrister Sarwar Muzaffar Shah stated that on Dec 21 the respondent had given interviews to different national news channels, wherein he had made some gravely scandalous, malicious and defamatory remarks against the PHC chief justice.

He added the respondent further reiterated some of his baseless allegations when he posted a statement on his social media account on X.

He further stated the contemnor not only attributed false and scandalous accusations against the chief justice but rather hurled threats at him.

He contended the respondent was heading a political party, therefore, he should have been more diligent in making any public statement about the judiciary. However, his conduct showed his intent to publicly ridicule the judge and the court.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2024