Islamabad, Aug 28 (IANS): Pakistan's supreme court Wednesday dropped a contempt charge against former cricketer and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan.

The notice had been brought against him for his use of the word “sharamnak” in a press conference July 26 in reference to what he called inaction by the judiciary and election commission over alleged rigging in the country's general elections in May this year.

According to local media reports, Khan Wednesday told the court that he never criticised the judiciary.

“Why is it being misconstrued... I only referred to the returning officers and never named the supreme court or the superior judiciary,” Geo News quoted Khan as telling the court.

“My entire struggle has been focused on an independent justice system,” he said.

The PTI came third in this year's general elections winning 35 of the 342 seats in the National Assembly. It could also form a government in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.