IHC takes up Al-Qadir Trust case hearing: Imran Khan warns of unrest if arrested again

The hearing of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s bail plea in the Al-Qadir Trust case at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) is underway.

The hearing was paused shortly after it began on account of Friday prayers.

A division bench comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz is hearing the case in courtroom No.2.

As reported, the hearing started after a nearly two-hour delay with media reporting that officials were conducting a security sweep outside the courtroom.

The IHC took up PTI chairman Imran Khan’s bail plea a day after Supreme Court termed the former prime minister’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case “unlawful”.

In the courtroom, a Geo News reporter questioned Imran Khan whether he was allowed to use his phone during his arrest — Imran Khan replied: “NAB officials allowed me to talk to my wife via landline”.

The reporter then cross-questioned why did he contact Musarrat Cheema when he was given the phone to talk to his wife.

Imran Khan clarified that he could not contact his wife.

In response to a question that had he expected to be arrested, Imran Khan replied: “I was 100% certain that I would be arrested.”

Following this, the courtroom erupted into slogans in the favour of the PTI chairman. The courtroom staff tried to stop the chanting; however, they failed to do so. At this, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb said that this was “unacceptable”.

Subsequently, the hearing was briefly adjourned for a break for Friday prayers.

Imran Khan was brought to the Islamabad High Court from the Police Lines Guest House amid tight security.

Members of the Insaf lawyers federation chanted slogans as paramilitary forces took Khan to the diary room for biometrics.

Imran Khan was then taken to the courtroom surrounded by policemen and rangers.