The Supreme Court on Monday declined to approve an immediate request to meet Imran Khan. The court said it could not issue such an order without first hearing the government.
The request was filed by senior PTI leader Latif Khosa. He asked the court to allow a meeting with the jailed party founder.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi addressed the matter during the hearing. He said no decision could be made without issuing a formal notice. The court later sent a notice to the government for Tuesday.
The chief justice also raised concerns about the petition itself. He said the court must first decide if the case is maintainable. He reminded the petitioner that similar cases are already pending in other courts.
“We believe this case may no longer be effective,” the chief justice stated. He added that the petition relates to an order passed in August 2023.
The court repeated that it cannot allow a meeting with Imran Khan without government input. It also said the case might be infructuous. This means it may no longer serve a legal purpose.
In recent months, PTI has held several protests. These protests demand access to Imran Khan. Party leaders say they are concerned about his legal rights and health.
Imran Khan has been in jail since August 2023. He faces multiple cases. These include charges of corruption and terrorism.
His legal troubles began after his removal from office. He lost power through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
Last week, the Supreme Court shared another update. It said a memorandum from PTI leaders was forwarded to authorities. The memo was submitted on February 6.
A court spokesperson said the concerns were sent to executive officials. These included issues of access and medical reports.
The spokesperson also confirmed a gathering outside the court. Several PTI lawmakers were present. This included Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
They met the court registrar and shared their concerns. The registrar assured them that the matter would reach the chief justice.
Later, PTI lawyer Salman Akram Raja met the chief justice. However, the issue was not part of any active court case.
As a result, the court referred the matter to the government. The group then dispersed peacefully.
In other news read more about ATC Denies Imran Khan’s Request for Personal Doctors’ Medical Check-Up
For now, the future of the request to meet Imran Khan depends on the government’s reply. The court will decide the next step after hearing all sides.
