ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) is expected to indict former Prime Minister Imran Khan today, Thursday, in a contempt of court case involving accusations he threatened a woman judge last month. 

During the last hearing of the case on September 8, the IHC said it was not satisfied with Khan’s response to charges he had threatened Zeba Chaudhry during an impassioned speech at an Islamabad rally on August 20.

In such a contempt case, the accused are required to tender an unconditional apology without any justification, clearly stating that they leave themselves at the mercy of the court, legal analysts say, as long as the accused do not want to contest the case.

The court has said Khan did not give a clear apology.

Former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and several members of Pakistani parliament have in the past been convicted of contempt of court and been disqualified from contesting elections for five years as per Pakistani law.

"Now what?," Khan told reporters as he left the courtroom on September 8 after the last hearing. "Now, they (the judges) have to decide."

The case against Khan relates to the ex-premier’s speech at a rally in which he said, according to a police report, that he “would not spare” Islamabad’s police chief and the female judge, alleging that his chief of staff, Dr. Shahbaz Gill, had been tortured in police custody after being arrested on charges of sedition. Police and prison authorities deny the allegation. Gill is now out on bail after being in custody for about a month.

“We have unanimously found the response of the respondent [Imran Khan] in the case unsatisfactory and charges will be framed [against him] after two weeks,” IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah had said after a three-hour hearing on September 8. 

According to a circular issued by the IHC, Thursday's contempt proceedings would take place at 02:30pm.

“[The] Islamabad administration and police will make security arrangements to maintain decorum in court,” the circular stated. 

Security has been beefed up within and outside the court premises, with the high court allowing only a 15-member legal team with Khan, 15 law officers and an equal number of journalists to cover proceedings of the case.

Khan's aides have described his legal woes as an attempt to knock him out technically after seeing his growing popularity among people since his ouster in April in a parliamentary no-confidence vote.