Profit DECLARING ARREST 'UNLAWFUL', SC ORDERS IMRAN TO APPEAR BEFORE IHC TODAY In partnership with
Rs 15.00 | Vol XIII No 312 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
Friday, 12 May, 2023 I 21 Shawwal, 1444
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ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
HE Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday declared former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest as illegal and ordered his immediate release in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The apex court advised the PTI chief to approach the Islamabad High Court again in the matter on Friday (today). The court further directed that Imran be housed at the Police Lines guesthouse until Friday (today), and during this time he will be permitted to meet with up to 10 individuals. Imran, who was arrested from inside the high court in Islamabad on Tuesday, was present in the apex court when the order to provide relief to the former prime minister was issued by a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, and also included Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah. The hearing on Thursday was in response to Khan’s plea against his arrest in a land dispute involving a property tycoon. The former prime minister is facing allegations of using allegedly illegal funds to build a university on land belonging to the trust. The case has been under investigation by the NAB, an anti-corruption watchdog agency. Khan was taken into custody by paramilitary Rangers from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) where he was attending the hearing of his bail application. “He has been arrested after being manhandled,” his spokesman Iftikhar Durrani confirmed to Anadolu Agency. The opposition party alleged the former cricket star turned politician was “abducted” from the court premises.
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DIRECTS PTI CHIEF BE HOUSED AT POLICE LINES GUESTHOUSE, PERMITS HIM TO MEET UP TO 10 INDIVIDUALS
The development comes days after Khan accused a senior intelligence officer, Maj. Gen. Faisal Naseer, of conspiring with the government of Shehbaz Sharif to kill him. The security outside the Supreme Court has been strengthened, with the Rangers and police contingents, as well as bomb disposal squads, being summoned ahead of a hearing set to take place in courtroom number one. Only lawyers and journalists who are already present in the room will be granted entry. An official of the Islamabad police has arrived at the court to assess the security situation. Media outlets have also reported that the opposition party has urged its supporters to refrain from visiting the Supreme Court during the hearing. The petition was filed after the capital’s high court declared his arrest legal on May 9 (the day he was arrested), despite expressing dissatisfaction over the manner of the arrest. “It is good seeing you,” CJP Bandial told Khan when he was presented before the three-member bench, and also asked him to “condemn” the violent protests that took place as a result of the arrest. I just want free and fair elections: Imran tells court In response, the PTI chief, through the media present in the courtroom, forwarded a message to his supporters that they should refrain from damaging public and private property. “I don’t want any damage to the country’s infrastructure nor do I wish for people
to get arrested. I just want free and fair elections,” the PTI chief told the court, pleading with the court that despite his response made to the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) notices, he was arrested. In response to the court’s question about whether he knew what was going on in Pakistan, Khan — who became the first prime minister to be ousted from office through a no-confidence vote in April last year — said his mobile phone was taken away and he was unaware about what was happening in the country.
SC verdict attracts mix reactions CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday declared former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest as illegal and ordered his immediate release in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The verdict garnered opposing reactions from both the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The elated supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) poured into the streets soon after the Supreme Court’s verdict. Ex-special assistant to the prime minister on youth affairs Usman Dar called on the party supporters to take to the streets to express solidarity and gratitude to the top
court. “All Pakistanis, wherever they are, should come out to express solidarity and gratitude to the Supreme Court in their respective areas,” the PTI leader tweeted. PTI leader Imran Ismail was also overjoyed at the SC’s verdict. “Imran Khan released by Supreme Court. Pakistan zindabad,” he wrote on the popular microblogging site. Pakistani actress Mishi Khan thanked the top court and Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial for giving a “fair and right verdict”. Imran Khan’s ex-wife, Jemima Goldsmith, also celebrated the SC’s decision. Taking to Twitter, Goldsmith wrote: “Finally sense has prevailed.” The PML-N on the other hand took exception to the “double standards of justice”
after the Supreme Court declared PTI Chairman Imran’s Khan arrest two days ago “unlawful”. PML-N leader Khawaja Asif addressed a press conference in Islamabad, highlighting the “double standards of justice”. He began by recalling that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and several other party leaders and workers were arrested in the past. “But why were they not treated in this kind manner by the court? Is this good treatment reserved only for Imran Khan on a selective basis?” he asked. “They never thought of […] keeping us in a rest house. Why are there double standards in this country?”
PML-N ministers take exception to ‘double standards of justice’ ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The ruling PML-N took exception on Thursday to, what it described, as “double standards of justice” after the Supreme Court declared PTI Chairman Imran’s Khan arrest two days ago “unlawful”. Imran was arrested in the AlQadir Trust case, in which he has been accused of corruption, from the Islamabad High Court premises on Tuesday afternoon before he was due to attend the hearings of two other cases. The former prime minister’s arrest sparked violent protests across the country, during which at least eight people were killed, several injured and thousands rounded up amid police action. There were many incidents of arson. Meanwhile, the IHC deemed his arrest within legal parameters, but the Supreme Court ruled today that Imran’s arrest was “unlawful” and directed authorities to retain him at the Police Lines Guest House in Islamabad, but under the
PM Shehbaz summons NSC meeting today ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday summoned an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee on Friday (today). The meeting scheduled to be held at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad will be attended by the military and civil leadership to discuss critical national security issues. The PM himself will preside over the meeting and review the current security situation in the country. This high-level meeting comes at a time when Pakistan faces a range of security challenges, including terrorism, border conflicts, and regional instability. With tensions on the rise, the National Security Committee is taking action to ensure the safety and security of the country and its citizens, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s House.
court’s supervision as a “guest” until his appearance before the IHC tomorrow. Reacting to the development, PML-N leader Khawaja Asif addressed a press conference in Islamabad, highlighting the “double standards of justice”. He began by recalling that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and several other party leaders and workers were arrested in the past. “But why were they not treaed in this kind manner by the court? Is this good treatment reserved only for Imran Khan on a selective basis?” he asked. “They never thought of […] keeping us in a rest house. Why are there double standards in this country?” In this connection, the defence minster also referred to a video of Imran released prior to his arrest. “In his video message published prior to his arrest […] did Imran not incite and preach violence in it? “And what was the result of that violence?” The PML-N leader accused
PTI protesters of attacking martyrs’ graves and military installations. “Those graves were defaced and the army’s installations and corps commander’s residence in Lahore were attacked.” He asserted that the court should have taken suo motu notice of these matters. “But no suo motu was taken and the judiciary was not concerned. However, an individual (Imran) has been respectfully transferred to a rest house. “The Supreme Court has ensured that he is provided all facilities and allowed to meet 10 people [at the guest house]. “My only question is: why these double standards?” In this respect, he also referred to audio clips allegedly featuring PTI leaders during the protests. “You all saw and heard […] what PTI leaders were telling their supporters and the language they used and how they burned [properties]. “Was it not an attack on national security? Was it not enmity towards the country? Shouldn’t this be taken notice of? Did it not move the court?” Prior to Asif and the SC ruling on Imran’s arrest, one of the defence minister’s peers from the PML-N Marriyum Aurangzeb also addressed a press conference in Islamabad, expressing similar views as him. She began by speaking about the protests, alleging that “a few hundred armed protesters and terrorists have been attacking” the country and state properties.
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ECP seeks report on prohibited funding of all parties ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ordered an internal scrutiny committee to present a report on the prohibited funding received by all political parties within 15 days, as it took several important decisions in a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja. In addition, the ECP has announced that by-elections for three National Assembly seats, NA-108 in Faisalabad, NA-118 in Nankana Sahib, and NA-239 in Korangi will be held on May 28. The meeting also discussed the complaints of Jamaat-e-Islami regarding the local government elections in Hyderabad. To address the irregularities in Union Council-119 of Hyderabad during the by-elections, the ECP has scheduled a hearing on May 15. The commission has requested a report from the provincial election commissioner, returning officer (RO), district returning officer (DRO), and district police officer (DPO) within three days. Notices have also been issued to candidates, ROs, DROs, relevant officials, and district police officers to appear before the commission on May 15. An ECP spokesperson said the actions demonstrate its commitment to ensuring fair and transparent elections and addressing any irregularities or complaints that arise. The scrutiny committee’s report on banned funding of political parties will provide valuable information for the Commission’s ongoing efforts to promote transparency and accountability in the political process, he said. The byelections for three National Assembly seats and the investigation into irregularities in Hyderabad are important steps towards upholding the integrity of Pakistan’s democratic institutions.
Imran among PTI leaders charged under terror law for GHQ protest LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
The police have booked top leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), including imprisoned chairman Imran Khan, following the protest in front of the General Headquarters (GHQ) and suspected ransacking of the Lahore Corps Commander’s official residence. The first information report (FIR) was registered in Rawalpindi under 10 criminal sections, including sections of the AntiTerrorism Act (ATA), 1997 and the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) with the RA Bazaar police station. The FIR claimed that a police team de-
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ployed near Gate No. 1 of the GHQ reported an aggressive mob of 250 to 300 people, led by former PTI minister Raja Basharat, attacked the gate, shouting slogans against the army, and attempting to enter the building. However, they were intercepted by the gatekeepers. A police party headed by a senior superintendent of police (SSP) is currently conducting raids to arrest Basharat and around 200 participants involved in the protest. Back in Lahore, several PTI leaders have been booked in complaints registered at the Race Course and Sarwar Road police stations in Lahore for their alleged involvement in the protests. At the Race Course police station, for-
mer minister Hammad Azhar and 80 other suspects have been booked under the terrorism law based on a complaint lodged by Station House Officer (SHO) Aftab Nawaz. The report indicates that Azhar led a mob that attacked the area surrounding Club Chowk, hurling abuses against the army, judiciary, and sensitive institutions. Another FIR was registered at the Sarwar Road police station concerning the protests in the Cantonment neighbourhood, on the complaint of Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Rana Ashfaq. The case includes murder, attempted murder, and 20 other sections of the PPC.
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