Lahore, Pakistan: Advocate Mian Dawood, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court accusing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Secretary of Information, Raoof Hassan, and spokesperson Shoaib Shaheen of contempt of court by scandalizing judges.
This is not the first time PTI has abused the higher judiciary rather this party has a tacit history of abusing and propagating against state institutions including the higher judiciary as well as the Pakistan Army. However, the higher judiciary has always shown leniency towards PTI leadership and has accepted verbal and written apologies from PTI leadership including founding chairman Imran Khan.
In October 2022, a five-member bench, led by Islamabad High Court (IHC) then-Chief Justice Athar Minallah, expressed its satisfaction with the apology tendered by Imran Khan.
Recently, in a press conference, Raoof Hassan used extremely objectionable language against the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan as well as against the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court but neither the courts took any suo moto against Raoof Hassan nor the Federation of Pakistan take any action against this conduct of Raoof Hassan and Shoaib Shaheen. However, the petition has been filed by Mian Dawood and includes transcripts of contemptuous interviews and media comments of Shoaib Shaheen and Raoof Hassan against the higher judiciary.
According to Advocate Mian Dawood, the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is systematically scandalizing the judiciary, while Raoof Hasan and Shoaib Shaheen are involved in a criminal conspiracy to scandalize the judges.
Mian Dawood added that the Supreme Court showed leniency towards Imran Khan and PTI leaders in the past in did not take action against them in cases of contempt of courts and such events encouraged by this, as they have not faced consequences for their contemptuous remarks against the court.
There is a long history of lenient conduct of the higher judiciary towards PTI and Imran Khan who is in Adiala jail but enjoying extraordinary facilities provided to him by the Punjab government under a court order.
Recently, in a letter written to Punjab advocate General and IG prisons a number of prisoners living in different jails of Punjab have requested to get the same privileges that are being enjoyed by Imran Khan, including six meetings with his lawyers in a day.
Prisoners claimed in the letter that the law should have been the same for everybody irrespective of his/her social background but special treatment is being given to the former prime minister Imran Khan in gross violation of Prison Rules 1978.
The letter added that facilities provided to PTI founder Imran Khan, former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and other political prisoners belonging to PTI be reviewed or extended to all prisoners living in all jails of the province of Punjab.
The Punjab Advocate General confirmed that the Punjab government has allocated seven cells for convicted PTI founder Imran Khan in Adiala jail, while 14 security personnel have been appointed for his security.
It has also been reported that the security of Imran Khan in jail is costing Rs. 1.2 million per month to the Punjab government while special food for Imran Khan is also prepared in a special kitchen at the cost of the budget allocated to the Prison Department of Punjab. It has also been reported that Imran Khan has the privilege to meet his family members any day of his own choice The jail Superintendent of Adiala jail is operating as a special assistant to Imran Khan and he ensures meetings of choice Imran Khan with his family and friends and provide the meal every day whatever Imran Khan wishes to eat.
Is PTI leadership beyond the law?
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