Islamabad: The Accountability Court on Thursday reserved its decision on the request of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for the 14-day remand of the former prime minister arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The former prime minister was arrested on Tuesday by the Rangers on the orders of the independent anti-corruption agency NAB in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.
He was then transferred to his office in Garrison Town, Rawalpindi for questioning.
Later, while announcing a reserved verdict on Khan’s arrest, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) held that the arrest was legal. Therefore, Khan’s legal team plans to challenge his arrest in the Supreme Court today.
Earlier today, PTI senior vice-president Fawad Chaudhry also filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging Khan’s arrest amid tight security as a heavy police force was deployed outside the apex court as well.
Today’s hearing
At the beginning of the hearing, NAB requested a 14-day physical remand. However, PTI’s lawyers opposed the application.
Sources told Geo News that Khan’s legal team was not allowed to meet the party chief before the hearing. However, after the hearing started, Khan interacted with lawyers Khawaja Haris, Faisal Chaudhry, Ali Gohar and Ali Bukhari during the break of the hearing.
Special Prosecutor Rafi Maqsood, Deputy Prosecutor Muzaffar Abbasi, Prosecutor Sardar Zulqarnain and Investigation Officer Mian Umar Nadeem were present in the court.
The NAB prosecutor told Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Bashir that the warrant was shown to Khan at the time of his arrest. However, the PTI chief denied these claims and said that he saw the arrest warrant after reaching the NAB office.
Abbasi assured the judge that the PTI chief’s lawyers would be provided with all necessary documents. The judge took a break and directed the legal team to communicate with Khan as the former complained that the authorities did not allow him to meet his client before the hearing.
When the hearing resumed after the break, Khawaja Haris argued the legality of Khan’s arrest.
Narrating the details of the case, Abbasi said that the money was seized by the British National Crime Agency and sent back to the government of Pakistan.
After counsel Haris concluded his arguments, Khan complained that he was not sharing with the authorities what records the anti-graft watchdog had sought.
“NAB is saying they want to compile records,” Khan said, questioning when they denied access to a record.
The former prime minister further said that all the transactions were done after approval of the cabinet. Recalling yesterday’s events, Khan urged the judges to summon his team of doctors, especially Dr. Faisal.
Hearing at ‘special place’
It should be noted that Khan was not brought to the regular court of the federal capital and his scheduled hearing was held at the same place where he was detained.
The Chief Commissioner of Islamabad had earlier said that instead of taking Khan to F8 Court Complex and Judicial Complex G11/4, Khan would be produced at the New Police Guest House, Police Lines – which has been given the status of a court. . The notification issued by the Government of Pakistan for this special hearing was read out.
The decision to present Khan in a special court instead of the NAB court was taken in view of the threats to his life. According to sources, the PTI chief was shifted from the NAB office to an unknown location late at night.
“[…] The Provincial Government, as a one-time arrangement, has allotted the new Police Guest House, Police Lines Headquarters H 11/1, Islamabad as venue for the hearing of the case of ‘District Election Commissioner v. Imran Khan’. Delighted to announce that for the appearance of Niazi and Mr. Imran Khan Niazi on 10th May 2023 before the Hon’ble Judge Accountability Court I, Islamabad, F-8 Court Complex, Islamabad and instead of Judicial Complex G 11/4, Islamabad, Read the notification issued by the provincial Govt., ICT.
It should be noted that the permission to enter the special court has been given only to people according to the judicial list, while the permission of coverage depends on the judges.
Hearing to take place at location of Khan’s custody
It should be noted that Khan will not be brought to court and his scheduled hearing will be held at the same place where he was detained, said the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad.
Khan will be produced at the New Police Guest House, Police Lines, instead of being taken to F-8 Court Complex and Judicial Complex G11/4 – which has been accorded one-time court status for this special hearing, a notification said. Read issued by Government of Pakistan
Police officials have also made it clear that access to the special court will be given to people as per the court list, while permission for coverage depends on the judges.
On the arrival of PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Awan and others, they were not allowed to attend the hearing or meet Khan.
Confirming the news, Qureshi told JEE News that he is now on his way to the IHC to get an update on the ill-treatment of the judges.
Former governor Omer Cheema arrested
Qureshi confirmed on his Twitter handle that former Punjab Governor Umar Cheema has been arrested.
After Chairman Imran Khan, PTI President Sindh @AliZaidiPTI and ex-Governor Punjab @OmerCheemaPTI have also been picked up, while our protestors were fired upon indiscriminately, women, children and the elderly were shelled and chemical water cannons fired. done Today, my offices in Multan were raided and my staff was beaten up,” Qureshi wrote.
He asserted that he would “never bow down to these dark forces”, and would always fight for Jinnah’s Pakistan.
Reiterating his call for protests, he wrote: “We continue to call @PTIofficial family workers, supporters, and the people of Pakistan to take to the streets to peacefully protest against this unconstitutional behavior. Anyone, absolutely. No one, therefore, should be allowed to be above the law.”
Protests erupt across country
Khan’s arrest in a surprise move from the IHC premises sparked violent clashes across the country during which hundreds of party workers, including former federal minister Ali Zaidi, were detained.
In several cities, his supporters took to the streets and clashed with security forces, who fired tear gas shells and tried to kill them.
Videos circulating on social media – which was also blocked in many parts of the country – showed some supporters carrying sticks and face masks entering the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and shouting angry slogans.
The cricketer-turned-politician faces multiple court cases and will be formally indicted today, including allegations that he misappropriated proceeds from the sale of state gifts during his tenure. The method was not revealed – Tosha Khana case.
They will be produced simultaneously in the accountability and magistrate’s court and for the first time will go to the judge’s guest house for hearing.
UK, US want to see ‘peaceful democracy’ in Pakistan
In the light of the current political situation of the country, the United States and the United Kingdom have demanded a democratic response to the protests against the arrest of the former prime minister, emphasizing the observance of the rule of law.
A US State Department spokesman urged the former prime minister’s supporters to protest peacefully, saying, “The authorities [in Pakistan] must also respond in accordance with rights and democratic principles.”
“All protesters are urged to express their concerns peacefully,” the spokesperson told JEE News when asked to comment on the current political situation.
He said the State Department was aware of the arrest but “the United States has no position” regarding any specific political candidate or party.
“We demand respect for democratic values and the rule of law throughout the world,” the spokesperson added.
In a separate statement, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverley said he wanted to see “peaceful democracy” in Pakistan.
James Cleverley said these things while speaking during his visit to America.
When asked about the arrest of former Pakistani, he said that we want to see peaceful democracy in this country. Prime Minister.
What is Al Qadir Trust Case?
The former prime minister, along with his wife Bushra Bibi and other PTI leaders, is facing an NAB inquiry into the collusion between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which allegedly cost the national exchequer £190 million.
According to the charges, Khan and the other accused allegedly adjusted 50 billion rupees – 190 million pounds – sent to the government by the British National Crime Agency (NCA).
He is also accused of obtaining illegal benefits in the form of more than 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa for the establishment of Al-Qadir University.
