Imran issued show-cause notice for Aug 31

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a show-cause notice to former prime minister Imran Khan in a contempt of court case on Tuesday, over his remarks against Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry, reports the Express Tribune.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman has been asked to personally appear before the bench on August 31.
Moreover, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial has been requested to include more judges in the bench as Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, leading the three-judge bench, said there should be no compromise on the sanctity of court.
Justice Kayani termed Khan's remarks 'inappropriate' and said the case is not only confined to the IHC but the message is going to the highest level, adding that people on social media should be controlled.
He also asked Advocate General Islamabad Jahangir Jadoon to read Khan's statement out loud, wherein he uttered the objectionable remarks.
Furthermore, he added that there was 'no need' for a former prime minister to 'threaten' a female judge hearing hundreds of cases.
"Imran is consistently giving remarks against the judiciary and the ECP. This should come to a stop," he said.
Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb added that Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry would be provided security.
Earlier in the day, AGI Jadoon had filed a separate application seeking to make Imran's statement against the sessions judge a part of the contempt proceedings.
Meanwhile, amid strain between the incumbent government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged calm, de-escalation of tensions and respect for the rule of law in Pakistan.
In response to a question about the "increasingly tense" situation, Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that the secretary-general was aware of the charges brought against former prime minister Imran Khan and that he emphasised the "need for a competent, independent and impartial legal process".
"He urges calm, lowering of tensions, and respect for the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms," the spokesperson added.
The UN chief had returned to New York on the weekend from a trip to Europe.
Tensions escalated in the political arena of the country after deposed prime minister Imran Khan was booked under terrorism charges on the complaint of Islamabad Saddar Magistrate Ali Javed for threatening the additional sessions judge of the federal capital, Zeba Chaudhry.
The first informant report (FIR) lodged by the Margalla police said that the PTI chief threatened the additional sessions judge of Islamabad with a view to terrorise the high officials of the police and the judiciary so that they could not fulfill their duties and refrain from taking action against the party due to fear of Imran.
The PTI chief said he was expecting to be arrested at three or four o'clock in the night, however, party leaders mobilised supporters and workers to flock to Bani Gala, Imran's hometown, while PTI bigwigs met with him at his residence.
Meanwhile, the ruling coalition flashed mixed signals on its decision regarding the arrest of Imran Khan and appeared to be maintaining a 'smoke screen' line on whether it wanted the former premier behind the bars or not.