SC orders immediate release of Imran after terming arrest ‘unlawful

SC orders immediate release of Imran after terming arrest ‘unlawful’

Islamabad: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday ordered the “immediate release” of PTI Chairman Imran Khan after terming his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case “unlawful”. The top court also directed the former prime minister to approach the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The directives were issued by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial as the court resumed hearing Imran’s plea against his arrest. Earlier in the day, a three-member SC bench including the CJP, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah directed the National Accountability Bureau to present Imran before the court.

“The court will issue an appropriate order today,” the CJP said during the hearing, adding that the court was “very serious” about the matter. Subsequently, Imran was presented in court amid tight security a little after 5:45pm. A Dawn.com correspondent present at the scene said that the former prime minister was taken inside the SC via the judges’ gate.

Ahead of Imran’s arrival, security was tightened outside the apex court, with contingents of the Rangers and police, and bomb disposal squads called in. Only lawyers and journalists already present in courtroom number 1 — where the hearing was held — are allowed inside the room. The media also reported that the Islamabad DIG (security) had reached the court to review the security situation.

Meanwhile, the PTI asked its supporters to stay away from the top court. When the hearing resumed, after Imran’s arrival in court, the CJP called the PTI chairman to the rostrum and said: “Happy to see you.”

“There have been incidents of violence after your arrest,” Justice Bandial said, adding, “We want peace in the country.” “It is being said that your [PTI] workers came out in rage,” he said and told Imran that the court wanted to hear him.

The top judge observed that the PTI chief was present in the IHC’s biometric courtroom on May 9. “When a person comes to the court of law, it means that he surrenders before the court.”

Justice Bandial then remarked that Imran’s arrest was “illegal” and directed the PTI chief to approach the IHC. “You will have to accept the high court’s decision,” the top judge said, reiterating that Imran had to appear before IHC tomorrow (Friday).

After the CJP passed the order, Imran, while still in the court, said that no harm should be caused to the country and asked his supporters to remain peaceful.

“We only want elections in the country,” he maintained.

The PTI chief stated that he was told by his lawyers a day earlier that “there is anarchy in the country”. He further said that people approached the court for justice, but contended that he was instead hit with clubs. “Even murderers are not treated this way,” Imran stated.

The PTI chief went on to say that he was unaware of what was happening in the country. “I was caught as if I am a terrorist,” he decried and then asked “how am I responsible for the protests?”

At the outset of the hearing — which began a little after 2pm — one of Imran’s counsels, Hamid Khan, came to the rostrum and informed the apex court that his client had approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for pre-arrest bail.

His lawyer said that Imran was in the process of getting his biometrics done when he was arrested. “Rangers misbehaved with Imran Khan and arrested him,” the lawyer said.