Imran accuses IHC CJ of 'taking orders' in alleged audio leak

Ex-PM can purportedly be heard giving instructions to PTI leader Musarrat Javed Cheema in phone conversation

An alleged audio call recording between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and party leader Musarrat Javed Cheema has surfaced online in which the PTI chief can purportedly be heard accusing the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice of 'taking orders'.

The former prime minister can allegedly be heard giving instructions to PTI leader Musarrat Javed Cheema in the alleged phone conversation.

Transcript of the alleged phone conversation between Imran Khan and Musarrat Javed Cheema:

Imran: So Musarrat, what's the situation? Did they get the message?

Musarrat: Sir, I have conveyed the message. We are sitting here in the high court and we are saying that we will not go under any circumstances to produce Khan sb.

Imran: But is Khawaja Haris there?

Read more: Audio leaks reveal PTI leadership's involvement in attack on army installations

Musarrat: Khawaja Haris and Salman Safdar both are here with me. I am sitting with them. If you want to speak, you can.

Imran: No, I just wanted to ask them that they should talk to Azam Swati that he should do it in Supreme Court as well as what they have done is malafide.

Musarrat: Yes, absolutely. Don't worry about it, sir.

Imran: What is this chief justice doing? Who takes orders from them?

Musarrat: Whether NAB people come or someone else [it doesn't matter]. I am standing right in front of Salman Safdar. I told him to say that produce [Imran] in court. I am sitting next to Khawaja Haris and him. We cannot leave like that. We will remain in court. Where your case is being heard... with chief justice.

Imran: No, but he takes orders from them. Talk to Azam on the other side. You must talk to Azam.

Musarrat: Okay sir. Please take care of yourself.

The recorded phone conversation purportedly took place on Wednesday, a day before the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared Imran Khan's arrest illegal and ordered his immediate release in the Al Qadir Trust corruption case. 

The former premier was arrested on May 9 by the paramilitary Rangers force on orders from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from the Islamabad High Court (IHC), over allegations of having looted Rs50 billion along with a property tycoon from the national treasury and getting the Al-Qadir University Trust registered on 450-kanal of land.

Hours after Imran's arrest, the IHC had declared that his arrest from the court's premises was carried out legally, as the PTI alleged political persecution.

The PTI chief had challenged his arrest in the apex court, which ordered his immediate release earlier today. 

In another leaked audio recording, a senior reporter covering the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Abdul Qayyum Siddiqui, and a lawyer representing PTI, Khawaja Tariq Rahim, can allegedly be heard discussing a possible court decision regarding Imran Khan.

Transcript of alleged phone conversation between reporter Qayyum Siddiqui and PTI lawyer Khawaja Tariq Rahim:

Rahim: So what's up?

Siddiqui: Nothing, they just called to bring Imran Khan today.

Rahim: They (the court) will order to go back to [Islamabad] High Court and a protective bail will be issued till tomorrow. In the High Court, he (Imran Khan) will raise objection on the Chief Justice. Chief Justice himself will write it down and mark Kiyani [to take the case].

Siddiqui: Mohsin Kiyani?

Rahim: Yes, Mohsin Kiyani. And Mohsin Kiyani will grant the bail. Anything else?

Govt censures SC for providing 'relief' to Imran

Earlier on Thursday, Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb also censured the Supreme Court for providing relief to the PTI chairman.

"The SC is giving relief to a criminal, a terrorist, a gangster who leads armed groups," said Marriyum Aurangzeb, lamenting that "after the arrest, terrorists and armed groups attacked state and public property in the country".

Also read Maryam slams CJP over Imran's release, suggests he should 'join PTI'

She maintained that the PTI leadership has "incited armed groups to violence", and at another point stressed that "the leader of these armed groups is the terrorist".

"Corps Commander's house was burnt, patients were taken out of ambulances and ambulances were set ablaze, mosques were targeted by arsonists, metro stations were burnt, policemen were attacked, their vehicles set on fire," she said.

"Had this terrorist been punished earlier, the country would not be burning today," she added.

"If courts support armed groups, encourage them, then similar relief should be given to all people," said Marriyum.

She also said that "contempt of court could have been avoided" had the courts upheld justice when political leaders including Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Rana Sanaullah, Salman Shehbaz, Hamza Shehbaz, Miftah Ismail and others were "dragged and thrown in jails".

"Real contempt of court happens when the country's courts become shelters for armed groups and terrorists," she added.