SC orders authorites to present Imran Khan in court by 4:30pm

The Supreme Court (SC) directed the Inspector General (IG) Islamabad Police Dr Akbar Nasir Khan to present Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan by 4:30 pm, Thursday.

The arrest of Imran Khan was challenged in the apex court yesterday in which PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry filed an application in the court.

In the petition, the stand has been taken that the arrest of Imran Khan is illegal, the order of the High Court declaring the arrest of Imran Khan as legal should be annulled and an order should be given to present Imran Khan before the court.

A 3-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Atta Bandial comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minullah is conducting the hearing.

At the beginning of the hearing, Imran Khan’s lawyer Hamid Khan gave arguments and said that Imran Khan had come to Islamabad High Court for pre-arrest bail, he was doing biometrics when the Rangers broke the door of the room and entered.

“Rangers misbehaved with Imran Khan and arrested him,” he added.

At this, CJP Bandial inquired about the case in which Imran Khan was seeking a bail extension.

Justice Athar Minallah inquired if a plea can be filed before the bio-metric verification is conducted.

At this, Imran Khan’s lawyer said that he went for bio-metric verification because a plea cannot be filed before that.

“Why did NAB take the law in its hand? It would have been better for NAB to seek permission from the IHC registrar,” Justice Minallah questioned,

He said that every citizen has the right to get justice and the apex court had to ensure its provision.

The judge also regretted the current situation in the country.

“Where did the sanctity of the court go with the arrest from the court premises,” CJP Bandial said.

Meanwhile, the CJP asked about the number of personnel who arrested Imran Khan.

At this, Imran Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar informed the court that 80-100 men came to arrest the PTI chief.

“What was left of the honor of the court when 90 people entered the court premises? NAB has disrespected the court,” CJP Bandial said, adding that no one would feel safe inside a court anymore.

“No one can be arrested from the high court, Supreme Court, or accountability court. Imran Khan’s arrest violated the judicial sanctity,” he added.