ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday termed the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan as “illegal” and ordered his release – a major relief for the ousted prime minister who has He was arrested two days ago in a corruption case. In the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The Supreme Court sent the PTI chief to the Police Lines Guest House and ordered him to appear before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by tomorrow, the same court that had declared his arrest legal. It is stipulated that no person will be arrested. Arrested in court premises
When authorities produced the PTI chief before a three-judge bench at 5.40pm – an hour after the order – Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial and Khan exchanged brief words and then issued the order. went.
The PTI – which has been on an agitation for the past two days and its protests have led to clashes with the police across the country, resulting in several deaths – welcomed the decision, a development by the government.
A three-judge bench comprising Justice Athar Minullah and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, headed by Chief Justice Bandyal, delivered the verdict on the PTI’s petition challenging Khan’s arrest.
The petition was filed after the capital’s High Court declared his arrest legal on May 9 (the day he was arrested) despite expressing dissatisfaction over the manner of his arrest.
“Good to see you,” Chief Justice Bandyal told Khan as he was produced before the three-judge bench, also asking him to “condemn” the violent protests that followed the arrest.
Imran tells supporters to refrain from violence
In response, the PTI chief sent a message to his supporters through the media present in the courtroom to refrain from damaging public and private property.
“I don’t want any harm in the country and I don’t want to provoke people. I only want free and fair elections,” the PTI chief told the court, pleading with the court that he was arrested despite responding to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) notices.
Asked by the court whether he knew what was happening in Pakistan, Khan – who became the first prime minister to be ousted by a no-confidence vote in April last year – said his mobile The phone was taken away and he was unaware of what was happening in the country.
The PTI chief then pleaded with the chief justice to send him home, but the top judge said he would not do so and assured him that he would “stay in peace at Police Lines Guest House”.
“You can stay there, talk, rest and then appear before the Islamabad High Court tomorrow,” the chief justice told Khan. The chief justice then directed the authorities to allow Khan to meet 10 people, including his lawyers, friends and family members.
Sit with political opponents even if ‘you don’t like them’
The chief justice then asked the ousted prime minister to initiate dialogue with his opponents, which would bring “peace” to the society. “It would be a good move because you have been entrusted with the rights of the people.”
The chief justice noted that Khan should start a dialogue with his political opponents even though he does not like them, adding that it is necessary to do so as the narrative on both political fronts has become “extreme”.
“230 million are waiting for their leader to push the boat forward,” he said, noting that the political divide has grown to such an extent that his friend told him that during the ongoing protests, the next house to be targeted can be made Chief Justice
