IHC reserves ruling on Imran’s jail trial

PTI founder's counsel says not against jail trial, argues for parameters to be defined

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) reserved its ruling on a petition of PTI founder Imran Khan against his jail trial in the £190 million and Toshahkhana references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

A division bench, led by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and including Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri heard the petitions. The lawyer for the petitioner, Shoaib Shaheen started his arguments, saying that the jail trial was conducted in extraordinary circumstances.

He told the court that he was not saying that jail trial could not be conducted, but the parameters of such a trial should be implemented. In this case, he pointed out that the jail trial notification was issued even before the filing of the reference.

Shaheen said the court should also look at the conduct of the judge of the accountability court, NAB and the federal government. He added that the accountability court judge left all cases behind and went to Adiala Jail every day for just two cases.

Read IHC refuses to stay Imran’s prison trial

Special NAB Prosecutor Amjad Pervez said the PTI founder was arrested in £190 million reference and a remand hearing was necessary. This was the case that led to the May 9 incidents, therefore, NAB wrote to the federal government to issue a notification for the jail hearing, he added.

Pervez further argued that the PTI founder was a former prime minister, and because of his security, the jail hearing notification was issued. The attorney general for Pakistan (AGP) told the court that NAB cases were being tried in open court inside the Adiala Jail.

After hearing the arguments from both sides, the chief justice remarked that there was no doubt that prison trials took place in unusual circumstances. Later, the bench reserved its decision and adjourned the proceedings.