PTI moves SC against Imran’s arrest

SC registrar first raises objections to appeal but later allots it a number

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) ruling that party chief Imran Khan’s arrest by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from the IHC premises on May 9 was “legal”.

After Imran’s arrest which sparked violent protests across the country, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi called an emergency meeting of a seven-member party committee to review the situation and devise a comprehensive strategy to secure the former premier’s safe and early release.

And on Wednesday, the PTI’ legal team led by Fawad Chaudhry submitted a petition in the apex court, requesting the court to set aside the order passed by the IHC chief justice in the wake of the arrest.

“…Leave to appeal may please be granted against the impugned order 09-05-2023 passed by Hon’ble IHC […] may be set aside and further after hearing the parties the warrant dated 01-05-2023 issued by Chairman NAB [National Accountability Bureau] may be declared void and further be directed to release the petitioner/accused forthwith in the interest of justice,” it said.

At first, the SC registrar's office returned the petition immediately after it was submitted. It stated that the PTI did not approach the relevant forum, adding that the party could file an intra-court appeal in the IHC. It said the petition also did not carry signatures of the PTI chief.

The party, however, resubmitted the petition after addressing the objections and the SC registrar office later admitted the appeal and allotted it a number (641/2023).

The IHC on Tuesday termed the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in Al-Qadir Trust case “legal” but issued notices to the Islamabad inspector general police (IGP) and secretary interior for contempt of court.

The court also ordered its registrar to complete an inquiry into the incident—which involved manhandling of lawyers and court staff and damaging of court properties— by May 16 and get a first information report (FIR) registered against people responsible for it.

Officials of paramilitary Rangers and police arrested the PTI chief from the IHC premises on Monday afternoon while implementing an arrest warrant issued by NAB, the country’s top graft buster.