The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has issued a strong condemnation against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial for his "extraordinary intervention" in the arrest of former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan. The cabinet deemed the intervention as "misconduct" on the part of the top judge.
According to the federal cabinet, Imran Khan's arrest was carried out in compliance with the Constitution, law, and legal procedures in the "open and shut case of corruption and corrupt practices".
The federal cabinet reiterated its stance that the CJP's interference was unjustifiable and condemned it in the strongest possible terms. It denounced the CJP's interference as "misconduct".
Read more: Court grants Imran two weeks interim bail in Al-Qadir Trust case
In the federal cabinet meeting, the ruling alliance not only condemned the CJP’s act of providing "relief" to Imran but also “strongly condemned” the CJP’s words, especially, when he addressed to Imran by saying: “Good to see you”.
The cabinet said that the expression “good to see you” by a person sitting on the highest seat of justice – CJP – for an accused arrested in a corruption case was “a shameful stain” on the forehead of the justice.
The cabinet statement read that the history of Islam, the civilised world, and judicial forums attest that such behaviour is unbecoming of any judge.
Case against Imran
The government’s reaction has come a day after CJP Umar Ata Bandial led a three-member bench that granted “extraordinary” relief to the PTI chairman in an alleged multi-billion corruption case of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Also read: PDM announces protest in front of SC on Monday
On Thursday, a three-member bench led by CJP termed Imran’s arrest “invalid and unlawful”, directed the law enforcers to provide him “foolproof” security until his appearance before the Islamabad High Court (IHC), “requested” Imran to condemn the violence that took place following his arrest from IHC premises and asked him to consider opening up dialogue with political opponents.
The former premier was arrested on May 9 from the premises of IHC only to be released on May 11 by the Supreme Court. Rangers on orders from NAB had arrested Imran from the IHC over allegations that he looted Rs50 billion from the national treasury along with a property tycoon and got the Al-Qadir University Trust registered on 450-kanal of land.
Though, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq had termed Imran's arrest as “lawful”, the top court overturned the decision by declaring the same as “unlawful”, noting that the entire process needed to be backtracked since a citizen enjoyed certain guarantees, particularly access to justice, on the court premises.
Meanwhile, while responding to the letter written by President Dr Arif Alvi to PM Shehbaz following Imran’s arrest, the cabinet not only condemned the move but expressed that President Alvi’s letter was proof that he was working more as a party worker than the head of the state.
Once again, the cabinet noted, President Alvi has proved his subservience to Imran instead of the Constitution and Pakistan, saying the person sitting in the office of the President has once again violated his oath.
In his letter to PM, President Alvi wrote that he was “shocked” over the manner in which ex-PM was arrested from inside IHC premises, saying he was shocked to see the video of the incident showing the abuse on Imran as he is a popular leader and the head of a major political party.
Earlier in his address, PM Shehbaz disapproved the "double standards of justice" meted out to the PTI chief in the cases against him, adding that the coalition government would take every step to ensure the rule of law in the country.
The PM said that the other political leaders in the country faced trials and tough handling while Imran was given “privileged treatment”. He termed the Supreme Court’s relief to Imran as “nothing but an NRO” – (National Reconciliation Order), the one given by the ex-military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf to the PML-N and PPP leadership in 2007.
At the outset of the federal cabinet meeting, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar briefed the meeting on the overall political situation as well as about the PTI chairman’s arrest, subsequent release and the protest that took place in between his arrest and release.
Following Imran’s arrest, the protesters took to the streets and attacked, ransacked and torched key government and military buildings, including the General Headquarters (GHQ) and the residence of the Corps Commander Lahore. Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar was also torched.
During the protest, at least six people lost their lives, dozens of others were injured and hundreds of PTI supporters were detained, including key PTI leaders. Though Imran was given relief by the Supreme Court as well as given bail by the IHC on Friday till May 18, the key leadership and PTI workers remained behind bars.
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