ISLAMABAD: Following a brief break, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) resumed hearing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s bail application in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq convened a two-judge bench, consisting of Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, to hear Imran’s bail application in the case.
As the hearing began today, a lawyer stood up and chanted pro-deposed premier slogans. The division bench expressed its displeasure, saying there should be complete silence, and Justice Miangul warned that if such acts continue, the case will not be heard.
The court then adjourned for Friday prayers.
As the hearing resumed, Imran stood up and requested everyone to listen to the proceedings quietly, alleging that and individual “had been planted” to disrupt the proceedings earlier.
Reacting to his remark, Advocate General Islamabad Barrister Jahangir Khan Jadoon raised an objection and questioned why the PTI chief was levelling allegations.
“Jadoon sb, I am sorry but I did not say anything about you,” replied Imran.
Khwaja Haris, representing the PTI chief, came to the rostrum and stated that Imran had written to the accountability watchdog for a copy of the inquiry in the Al-Qadir Trust case. “We came to know through the media that the inquiry has been converted into an investigation,” Haris maintained.
The lawyer added that the manner in which the inquiry was converted into an investigation, the aim was to “arrest Imran immediately”.
Haris furthered that NAB can convert an inquiry into an investigation only if there is sufficient evidence.
“A notice was sent to me on March 2, to which I replied,” he said, adding that in his response, he informed NAB that the notice was not sent in accordance with the NAB Ordinance.
‘It appears that martial law has been imposed.’
During break, Imran addressed the media once more, saying, “This is my country, my people, be peaceful.” He assured that he had obtained bail “in all cases” and that he would not be arrested.
The former prime minister also stated that he has complete faith in Pakistan’s chief justice. When asked about his arrest earlier this week, the PTI chief said he was beaten with a baton but that the NAB’s “behaviour was fine” during his detention.
“I had warned of a reaction,” said Imran referring to his arrest. “How can be held responsible if I was under arrest.”
Elaborating on his arrest, the PTI chief said he was inside the premises of the IHC when he was arrested and “they had no justification” for the act.
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