Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Wednesday submitted a detailed reply to the Supreme Court (SC) in a contempt case.
The PTI chief is facing contempt proceedings for allegedly violating the top court’s order regarding the party’s march on May 25.
The petition was filed by the interior ministry.
In his reply, Imran Khan maintained that he was not made aware of the SC’s order of May 25 that defined the limits for his party’s ‘Azadi March’ at the time and as such, “has not knowingly violated” any of its orders.
Khan said that the top court in its order also asked advocate Babar Awan to meet him, however, the administration did not facilitate a meeting.
"We regret taking this step unintentionally," said the PTI chief, adding that the May 25 call for a peaceful protest was against the incumbent government's behaviour.
The reply also stated that the acts of violence that occurred during the evening of 25 May, 2022, at various parts of Islamabad, including on Jinnah Avenue, were the consequence of continued state brutality.
"No act of violence was either intended or encouraged by the PTI," Khan maintained.
"Individuals facing violence by the state, including tear gas shelling, responded on their own in self-defense and in order to mitigate the damage caused by teargas," the PTI chief said.
Earlier during a hearing in the contempt case, the SC had observed that its orders on May 25 was “misused”.
A five-member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, had continued hearing a contempt petition against the former premier.
The bench had sought a detailed reply from the PTI chief over the violation of the May 25 order.
Imran Khan pleaded that the reports of the sensitive institutions do not prove the violation of the court order and should be considered factual and one-sided.
He appealed to the court that the contempt of court petition against him should be disposed of.
The reply also stated that the acts of violence that occurred during the evening of 25 May, 2022, at various parts of Islamabad, including on Jinnah Avenue, were the consequence of continued state brutality.
"No act of violence was either intended or encouraged by the PTI," he maintained.
"Individuals facing violence by the state, including tear gas shelling, responded on their own in self-defense and in order to mitigate the damage caused by teargas," the PTI chief said.
Earlier during a hearing in the contempt case, the top court had observed that its orders on May 25 was “misused”.
A five-member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, had continued hearing a contempt petition against the former premier.
The bench had sought a detailed reply from the PTI chief over the violation of the May 25 order.
During the hearing, CJP Bandial had noted that the court had moved carefully in this case.
“Even now we are exercising great restraint,” he added. The chief justice had further remarked that the judges did not want their pen to be “misused”.
The bench had also expressed its disappointment over two PTI lawyers, Dr Babar Awan and Chaudhry Faisal Hussain, for violating the court’s trust about the May 25 order.
The CJP had noted that it appeared that the SC was misled by these two lawyers.
“When our trust is breached, then it is very wrong,” he had added.
It is pertinent to mention that the SC had issued clear instructions to the former PTI to hold its Azadi March protest near Peshawar Mor between the H-9 and G-9 areas of Islamabad.
However, Imran Khan, along with his supporters, had made their way toward D-Chowk, prompting the government to call in the army for the security of the federal capital’s Red Zone.