IHC Chief Justice Bold Walkout as CM Afridi Sparks 1 Major Court Uproar

Chief Justice Bold Walkout: PTI Says Islamabad High Court Has Shut Its Doors

Senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja says the Islamabad High Court has practically become a closed door for the PTI founder’s legal team, as frustration grows over delays, unanswered petitions, and what the party describes as “unprecedented silence” from the judiciary. The situation intensified on Wednesday after a striking scene inside the court ended in what many observers referred to as a Chief Justice Bold Walkout.

A Courtroom Moment That Sparked an Uproar

At the heart of the matter was an interaction involving Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. Afridi attempted to speak at the rostrum of Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar’s court. His goal, he said later, was simple: since a meeting with the chief justice had not been possible through any official channel, he attempted to address him directly in open court.

But the moment he greeted the judge, the chief justice did not respond. A few seconds later, he stood up and walked out. For PTI, this became yet another example of what they describe as the Chief Justice Bold Walkout pattern that has defined their recent experience at the Islamabad High Court.

Afridi told the media that he had waited for more than an hour and fifteen minutes, yet received no acknowledgment or response. His visit, he explained, was intended to show that PTI wasn’t engaging in confrontation or protest politics. They had exhausted formal options. This, he insisted, was a peaceful attempt to be heard.

The Medical Examination Request That Went Nowhere

Another point of friction was a request for a medical examination of the PTI founder by doctors from Shaukat Khanum Hospital. According to Afridi, even this request was not entertained. This deepened the perception that the high court simply was not opening its doors.

PTI leaders later framed the issue as another example of institutional silence, and once again tied it to a “Chief Justice Bold Walkout moment.” Their claim: the leadership of a major political party was being denied basic procedural rights.

Salman Akram Raja’s Account: A Closed Door for PTI

Speaking alongside Afridi, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the legal team has made multiple attempts to secure access to Imran Khan’s doctors, family, and lawyers. He explained that the court had previously ordered weekly meetings—one slot for lawyers and one for the family.

But even when he appeared in court with Afridi, the jail superintendent was directed to arrange a meeting on the same day. Despite this clear order, the meeting never took place. A contempt petition was filed. That petition was not heard. Older contempt petitions, Raja added, were eventually taken up—only to be disposed of without action.

For PTI’s legal team, each of these incidents fits into a broader narrative of institutional stonewalling. Raja said it was becoming harder not to see every delay and refusal as another replay of the Chief Justice Bold Walkout dynamic inside the judiciary.

Taking the Matter to the Supreme Court

Raja told reporters that since the high court was taking no action over the violation of its own orders, the PTI legal team had now moved part of the matter to the Supreme Court. Even petitions for a medical examination were pending without hearing.
“In simple words,” he said, “the Islamabad High Court is a closed door for us. We file petitions, but they are not heard.”

The lawyer also highlighted a separate ongoing case related to the social media platform X. The court had directed that Raja be allowed to meet the PTI founder so he could file a reply. But he was still denied a meeting—yet the court pressed ahead, expecting arguments and documents without any client consultation. He said this was yet another example of the Chief Justice Bold Walkout trend that PTI sees repeating itself.

Chief Minister Afridi’s Attempt to Speak: Another Walkout

Raja pointed out that Afridi represents over 45 million people. When the chief minister tried to speak after the day’s hearings finished, the chief justice again stood up and left. To party leaders, this was not just a walkout—it was symbolic. It reinforced the idea that PTI’s voice was being shut out through a series of Chief Justice Bold Walkout episodes that were gradually becoming the norm.

Raja said the party will now approach the Supreme Court again. “The case of Imran Khan will have to be fought by the nation,” he added.

A Phone Confiscated for Filming Afridi

The day’s tension didn’t remain inside the courtroom. In the corridor of the Islamabad High Court, a man who recorded a short video of the KP chief minister was stopped by police. His mobile phone was seized, the video was deleted, and then the phone was returned.

Supporters described this as yet another example of a hostile environment surrounding the PTI leadership—a climate shaped by institutional resistance and the Chief Justice Bold Walkout moments inside the court.

Aleema Khan’s Concerns Over Hearings

Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, said she has been attending court for 13 months just to ensure that her brother’s cases are heard. She made serious allegations: she claimed Chief Justice Dogar was appointed specifically to prevent Imran Khan’s cases from being scheduled. She said hearings were routinely avoided and that she personally witnessed a Chief Justice Bold Walkout on a day when even her presence did not stop the abrupt exit.

“This chair exists to provide justice to the public,” she told reporters. “Courts around the world do not work like this.”

Medical Treatment Decisions: A Family Matter

She clarified that the family—not the political party—would make decisions about Imran Khan’s medical treatment. According to Aleema, Hussain Akhunzada had contacted them about health matters, and the family had clearly stated they wanted treatment at Al-Shifa Hospital. She alleged that the party kept the family in the dark, and that Imran was even treated inside jail without their knowledge.

This, she said, was “deeply troubling” and once again reflected the growing sense of distrust rooted in repeated Chief Justice Bold Walkout events surrounding the case.