The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the immediate release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister, Imran Khan’s, in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The court declared Khan’s arrest as illegal and advised him to approach the Islamabad High Court again. The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Umar Ata Bandial, commented during the hearing that the IHC would resume hearing of the case the following day. The court ordered Khan’s production within an hour, but he was produced in the court at around 5:40 pm, over an hour late. Khan claimed that he had been “abducted” from the IHC and subjected to physical assault. The CJP requested that Imran condemn the violent protests that erupted after his arrest on Tuesday. The apex court had earlier stated that PTI workers would not be allowed to come to the court.
Introduction
Imran Khan, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former prime minister, has been released by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which declared his arrest illegal and advised him to approach the Islamabad High Court again. The court ordered the authorities concerned to produce Khan in an hour, but he was produced over an hour late, prompting the CJP to request Imran to condemn the violent protests that erupted after his arrest on Tuesday.
Background
Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan and the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case. However, during the hearing, the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared his arrest illegal and ordered his immediate release. The court advised Imran Khan to approach the Islamabad High Court again.
The Hearing
During the hearing, the CJP commented that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) would resume hearing of the case the following day. The court ordered the authorities concerned to produce Khan in an hour, but he was produced in the court at around 5:40 pm, over an hour late. Imran Khan claimed that he had been “abducted” from the IHC and subjected to physical assault. The CJP requested that Imran condemn the violent protests that erupted after his arrest on Tuesday. The top court had earlier stated that PTI workers would not be allowed to come to the court.
Imran Khan’s Response
In court, Imran Khan claimed that he had been “abducted” from the IHC and subjected to physical assault, saying that he had been beaten with clubs and that such brutality was not even inflicted on criminals. Additionally, he expressed that he had no knowledge of what had occurred after he was tortured. He added that he has always urged his supporters to remain peaceful and avoid causing chaos in the country.
READ MORE: Imran Khan’s Arrest: A Trigger for Nationwide Riots and Property Damage in Pakistan
The Supreme Court’s Decision
The apex court had earlier stated that PTI workers would not be allowed to come to the court. Dismissing the attorney general’s request to be given a day’s time, the CJP stated that the court would issue an appropriate order today, and was “very serious” about the matter. The attorney general argued that an accountability court had already approved the former prime minister’s physical remand, Justice Minallah stated that if the “foundation” [of the arrest] was illegal then a “structure cannot be allowed to be built on it”. He continued that the time had come to set an example for the future.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the immediate release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The court declared Khan’s arrest as
