Do the caretakers want to ‘derail polls’, asks IHC

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court on Friday permitted PTI leaders and lawyers to hold election meetings with the party’s founding chairman, Imran Khan, at Adiala jail with the judge asking if the caretaker set-up wanted to “derail the polls” and observing that a “terrible system” was being run under the interim government.

The order was passed by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb on a petition filed by Imran seeking permission for meetings with party leaders including Asad Qaiser, Junaid Akbar Khan, Aurangzeb Khan, Dost Mohammad Khan, and Ishtiaq Meherban in order to formulate a strategy for the polls.

The plea also requested the IHC to instruct the jail superintendent to ensure privacy for Imran during his consultations with his legal team.

During the hearing, PTI lawyers, the Adiala Jail superintendent, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan, and additional attorney general appeared in the court.

PTI's counsel, Shoaib Shaheen, emphasized the urgency of discussions on the allocation of 700 tickets, noting that with the elections just weeks away, strategic decisions were crucial. In response, the AGP and additional attorney general raised objections regarding the plea's maintainability.

Justice Aurangzeb expressed displeasure over the argument presented by the AGP and additional attorney general, pointing out that they were representing the interim government and needed to remain impartial.

The judge remarked that an additional note from the Supreme Court was not enough for them.

“Do you want me to write a note against you after the Supreme Court?” he added.

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Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb was referring to the additional note penned by SC judge Athar Minallah, wherein the latter had observed that it was a primary constitutional duty of the Election Commission of Pakistan that the delayed polls were held in a fair, free and transparent manner without giving anyone an opportunity to complain.

Asking if the caretakers wanted to "derail the elections", the judge observed that a “terrible system” was being run under the interim government, where even “consultations on the polls were not allowed”.

The court then allowed PTI lawyers, recently-elected party chairman Gohar Khan and others to hold consultations with Imran in prison.

It also passed an order for meetings between Gohar and Imran under the supervision of the jail superintendent.
Justice Aurangzeb observed that consultations on the polls was a fundamental right and urged the interim set-up to remain "neutral" during the general elections.

He added that opposing meetings between Imran and PTI leaders raised a “question” on the neutrality of the interim government as he disposed of the petition.

Later speaking to the media, PTI lawyer Shaheen said the caretakers were “actually chair takers” and everyone could see on whose “orders” they were functioning.

“They all have a problem with the fact that Imran Khan and the nation are on one page. Today, the public is standing with Imran Khan,” he claimed.