Dealing a blow to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Supreme Court on Wednesday returned the party’s petition challenging the Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict in which the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) ) announced the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan. “legal”.
After Khan’s arrest at the IHC premises on Tuesday, the provincial Supreme Court heard the issue of whether the arrest was legal or not.
After hearing NAB’s counsel, the court declared that the arrest was indeed legal.
After this development, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi called an emergency meeting of the seven-member committee to review the situation and formulate a comprehensive strategy for the safe and early release of the party chairman.
The senior PTI leader announced the party’s plan to approach the Supreme Court challenging the IHC verdict.
The PTI’s legal team – headed by the party’s senior vice-president Fawad Chaudhry – then moved the petition in the Supreme Court.
“Hence, it is respectfully prayed that the appeal be allowed against the order passed by the Hon’ble Islamabad High Court dated 09-05-2023 […] quashed dated 05-2023 issued by the Chairman NAB. be and further directed that in the interest of justice the petitioner/accused be released immediately.
However, the registrar’s office returned the application minutes after submission.
The PTI chief did not approach the relevant forum, the registrar’s office said, adding that he may file an intra-court appeal.
The registrar’s office also said that the petition was not signed by the PTI chief.
