Imran Khan faces five-year disqualification if convicted of contempt of court charges

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan could be disqualified for five years from the Assembly membership and from the party office if the Supreme Court convicts him in the contempt case, legal experts have said.

Taking sou-moto, the Supreme Court has issued a contempt of court notice to Khan for his remarks against the court in his three consecutive media talks on July 26, 29 and 30th, which were reported in the media.

The first order in suo-moto said that prima facie, it seems that Khan has started a deliberate campaign to scandalise the court and bring judges into hatred, ridicule or contempt.

It added that in view of his acts action is called upon for contempt of court under Article 204 of the Constitution read with Section 3 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003.

According to the Nation, advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique said the apex court had issued contempt notice to Khan as he was intentionally levelling rigging allegations against the judiciary.

He suggested that Khan should apologise from the apex court. The experts said that the political future of PTI Chairman is in the hands of apex court judges.

Justice (Retd) Wajihud Din, who was the PTI Presidential candidate in recent elections, said Imran Khan had not criticised the Supreme Court and the high courts, the report said.

He added that Khan has criticised the role of Returning Officers who were not performing the judicial duties while holding the May 11 elections.

PTI Lawyers Wing Lahore President Advocate Muhammad Fayyaz said that the stance of Imran Khan on elections rigging and change in Presidential elections schedule was quite right, the report added.