IHC bench hearing Imran’s plea dissolved

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) bench formed to hear former premier Imran Khan's request for the revival of bail pleas in the Al-Qadir Trust and Toshakhana cases was dissolved on Wednesday following Justice Babar Sattar's recusal.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Sattar heard the application. Imran's counsel, Latif Khosa, was present in the courtroom.

The court asked the PTI chairman's counsel whether Imran's detention should not be considered an arrest, to which Khosa replied that NAB had its own procedures and had given a statement that Imran was not arrested.

Khosa added that it was NAB's procedure to issue an arrest warrant.

NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi replied that an arrest warrant existed for the former premier.

When the court inquired regarding a delay in the investigation by NAB, the deputy prosecutor general replied that investigation in both the cases was under way.

The bench expressed displeasure, announcing that they would place the case before another bench. Justice Farooq said that on Nov 6, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri would schedule the case.

Justice Sattar also asked why an investigation was not being conducted when an individual had been arrested.
Imran's counsel requested for the interim bail to be restored which was rejected by Justice Babar, referring to Imran's current arrest.

Khosa said that another second bench of the same court had restored interim bail in six cases.

Justice Sattar said that the bench which passed this order, “I have a difference of opinion with it”.

“I am not hearing this case. The bench which gave the decision will hear this case.

“My position is that if a person is arrested, he will be declared arrested in other cases as well.”

The new bench will comprise CJ Farooq and Justice Tariq Jahangiri.