ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday filed an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging verdict of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against arrest of party chairman Imran Khan in Al-Qadir Trust case.
Fawad Chaudhary, the party’s senior vice-president, filed the appeal in the top court and submitted that the arrest of Imran Khan was illegal. He asked the court to order the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to immediate release Imran Khan.
The petition came a day after the IHC declared the arrest of Imran Khan ‘legal’ while hearing his pleas for bail in two cases registered against him with Ramna Police Station and Secretariat police station. The IHC extended bail of the PTI chief till May 16, issued notices to the IGP and others, and sought explanation over damaging the sanctity of the court by conducting raid on its premises.
NAB Chairman issued arrest warrants of Imran Khan in Al-Qadir Trust case while Pakistan Rangers were directed to conduct the operation to execute the same warrants. As the PTI chairman reached the diary branch of the IHC for his biometrics for his appear before the court for bail in two said cases, the Rangers smashed their way to reach him.
The video footage showed Imran Khan sitting calmly in the room and watching the Rangers personnel advancing towards him. The Rangers, according to the reports, tortured Imran Khan and pushed him to an armored vehicle parked outside the court premises.
Imran Khan’s arrest sparked countrywide protests as thousands of PTI workers and supporters took out to the street and demanded immediate release of their leader. The workers blocked the roads and threw stones at the police. They also chanted slogans against the incumbent government.
The authorities suspended the internet services across the country.
The latest reports suggested that Asad Umar, PTI’s Secretary General, was arrested from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) where he had gone along with other party leaders to file application for safety, security and immediate release of Imran Khan.
Earlier in the day, the ACE officials conducted raid at the house of PTI leader and former Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema and arrested him from there. He was arrested in a case related to dispute about “inherence” of his former sister-in-law. The sources said that Cheema was later handed over to the Punjab police as he had also been facing a terrorism case in Lahore.
