SC orders immediate release of Imran Khan
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday termed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Pakistan (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest in Al-Qadir Trust case illegal and ordered his immediate release.
The three-member bench of SC led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and other members including Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar heard the case and announced the verdict. Khan was brought to the Supreme Court amid the tight security.
After resuming the hearing, the chief justice said we wanted peace in the country as protests erupted across the country after the arrest of Imran Khan.
The top court also directed the PTI chairman to approach the Islamabad High Court (IHC) tomorrow and proceed his case there.
The Supreme Court also requested him to urge his supporters to remain peaceful. However, the court ordered the PTI chairman to approach the IHC tomorrow and comply with the high court’s decision. The bench has also ruled that no arrest can be made from court premises in the future.
The court rejected Imran Khan’s request to reside at his Islamabad residence in Bani Gala and ordered him to stay at the Police Lines Guest House in the federal capital. Nevertheless, the court granted him the freedom to meet individuals of his choice. The Chief Justice stressed the need for stringent security measures at the designated location and directed a minimum of 10 to 12 personnel to accompany and escort Imran Khan.
To Read more: After Imran Riaz Khan, TV anchor Aftab Iqbal arrested
Earlier, the top court ordered the Inspector General of Police to produce the former prime minister Imran Khan before it within an hour.
“The arrest from the court premises will not be tolerated,” remarked the Chief Justice of Pakistan while hearing the appeal against arrest of the PTI Chief.
The bench also directed the PTI workers and supporters not to accompany him during his appearance before the court at 4:30 pm today.
The CJP remarked that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) committed contempt of court by raising a question that how a person could be arrested from the premises of the court.
Chief Justice Bandial remarked that the NAB should have sought prior permission from the registrar of the court before arresting Imran Khan.
“This is the matter of the honour of the court,” remarked CJP Bandial while heading a three-member bench seized with the hearing of the plea challenging the decision of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in which Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan’s arrest was declared ‘legal’ in Al-Qadir Trust case.
Justice Athar Minallah, the other member of the bench, remarked that Imran Khan had entered the premises of the court, observing that “such way must be stopped,”. Justice Minallah also remarked that one case was filed and another was being filed when Imran Khan was arrested.
The CJP asked, “how many people came to arrest Imran Khan?,”.
On it, the counsel representing Imran Khan said around 90 people entered the premises of the court to arrest him. At this, the CJP remarked, “then what the sanctity of the court left”. The counsel said that the Rangers mistreated Imran Khan and arrested him which sparked the countrywide protests.
Justice Athar Minallah observed that the arrest would be reversed from where it was done as the way the arrest was made could not be accepted.
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