World

Pakistan’s Supreme Court Directs NAB To Produce Imran Khan Within an Hour

Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the anti-corruption watchdog to produce former prime minister Imran Khan within an hour as it observed that the agency committed “contempt of court” by entering the court premises and arresting him without permission from the court’s registrar.

The directive was issued by a three-member bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and Justice Athar Minallah, which heard Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman’s plea against his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case on Tuesday.

The bench during the hearing expressed anger at the way 70-year-old Khan was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court where he had come from Lahore for a case. The bench directed NAB to produce Khan by 4:30 pm (local time) when the court would reconvene.

At the start of the hearing, Chief Justice Bandial asked how an individual could be arrested from the court premises. Justice Minallah observed that Khan had indeed entered the court premises. “How can anyone be denied the right to justice?” he asked.

Also read: “Such Scenes Were Never Seen By The People Of Pakistan,” Says Shahbaz Sharif After Khan’s Arrest

The court also observed that no one could be arrested from the court without permission of the registrar of the court. It also observed that the arrest was tantamount to denying access to justice without fear and intimation, which was the right of every citizen.
It also said that entering the premises of a court means surrendering to the court and how a person could be arrested after surrender. “If an individual surrendered to the court, then what does arresting them mean?” the chief justice said.

Khan’s counsel Hamid Khan informed the court that his client had approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking a pre-arrest bail but was arrested by paramilitary Rangers.

“Rangers misbehaved with Imran Khan and arrested him,” the lawyer said.
The court also took note of about 90 to 100 Rangers personnel entering the court to arrest Khan. “What dignity remains of the court if 90 people entered its premises? How can any individual be arrested from court premises?” the Chief Justice asked.

Also read: China Objects To A Proposal By India To Blacklist Pak-Based Jaish-e Mohammed Leader At United Nations

Chief Justice Bandial also at point observed that the National Accountability Bureau had committed “contempt of court”. “They should have taken permission from the court’s registrar before the arrest. Court staffers were also subjected to abuse,” he said.

Khan was arrested on Tuesday from the Islamabad High Court and an accountability court on Wednesday handed him over to the National Accountability Bureau for eight days in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The former premier on Wednesday approached the apex court to set aside the warrants of NAB of May 1 for his arrest and to challenge the Islamabad High Court’s decision to declare the arrest “unlawful”.
Earlier, the IHC expressing anger at the way Khan was nabbed upheld his arrest hours after he was whisked away.

(Source – PTI)

Bharat Express English

Recent Posts

PM Modi, Yogi Adityanath Extend Navratri Wishes; Highlight Devotion To Maa Durga

On Thursday, PM Modi extended his greetings on the fifth day of Chaitra Navratri, wishing…

23 mins ago

Delhi High Court Orders MCD To Investigate Encroachment On School Land In Wazirpur

The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi MCD to investigate whether there is any…

26 mins ago

Waqf Amendment Bill 2025: Ensuring Transparency And Securing Property Rights

BJP leader Khem Chand Sharma has expressed strong support for the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025,…

38 mins ago

PM Modi Arrives In Bangkok For 6th BIMSTEC Summit; Indian Diaspora Extends Warm Welcome

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Bangkok to participate in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit.

44 mins ago

Waqf (Amendment) Bill To Be Tabled In Rajya Sabha After Lok Sabha Approval

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill which cleared the Lok Sabha, is set to be introduced in…

1 hour ago

Lok Sabha Passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill After Intense Debate

The Lok Sabha approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the early hours of Thursday following…

1 hour ago