The accountability court in Islamabad sent PTI chief Imran Khan on eight days physical remand in Al-Qadir Trust case.
According to the reports, Judge Muhammad Bashir presided over the hearing in which the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) requested a 14-day physical remand of PTI chief Imran Khan in connection with the corruption case.
Also Read: PTI holds country wide protest after Imran Khan Arrest
On the other hand, PTI chairman Imran Khan is being represented by a team of lawyers including Khawaja Haris, Barrister Ali Gohar, and Advocate Ali Bukhari in the ongoing hearing of his case against the Al-Qadir University Trust in the accountability court.
The Deputy Prosecutor General of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, and the Special Prosecutor, Raffique Masood, are also present in the court during the proceedings.
Meanwhile, NAB’s Prosecutor, Sardar Zulqarnain, and Investigation Officer, Mian Omar Nadeem, are also present in the court to represent NAB.
Today’s Hearing
In today’s hearing, the NAB sought a 14-day physical remand as per the maximum allowed in the law but the PTI lawyers opposed the request.
Imran Khan’s legal team was earlier denied permission to meet the party chief ahead of the hearing; however, once the hearing began Khan held discussions — during a hearing break — with lawyers Khawaja Haris, Faisal Chaudhry, Ali Gohar, and Ali Bukhari.
Several officials of the anti-graft watchdog including Special Prosecutor Rafay Maqsood, Deputy Prosecutor Muzaffar Abbasi, Prosecutor Sardar Zulqarnain and investigation officer Mian Umar Nadeem were present in the court.
The NAB prosecutor informed the additional sessions judge Mohammad Bashir that Khan was shown warrants at the time of arrest; however, the PTI chief denied the claims saying that he saw the arrest warrants after reaching the NAB office.
Abbasi assured the judge that all necessary documents will be provided to the PTI chief’s lawyers. The judge, taking a break, directed the legal team to hold discussions with Khan as the former complained that the authorities did not allow them to meet their client before the hearing.
When the hearing resumed after the break, Khawaja Haris argued about the legality of Khan’s arrest.
Sharing the details of the case, Abbasi said that the money was seized by the UK’s National Crime Agency and sent it back to the Government of Pakistan.
After the completion of the lawyer Haris’s argument, Khan complained that which record is the anti-graft watch dog seeking that he is not sharing with the officials.
“The NAB is saying they want to compile the records,” Khan said, questioning when did he deny access to any of the records.
The former prime minister added that all transactions were made after the approval of the cabinet. Recalling yesterday’s events, Imran Khan urged the judges to summon his team of doctors, especially Dr Faisal.
After the defence and plaintiffs concluded their arguments, Judge Mohammad Bashir reserved the verdict which was announced after almost two hours.
Remember that Imran Khan was not brought to court in the federal capital and his scheduled hearing took place at the location where he was under custody.
The Islamabad chief commissioner on Tuesday said that Khan, instead of being taken to F-8 Court Complex and Judicial Complex G 11/4, will be presented at New Police Guest House, Police Lines — which has been given one-time status of the court for this particular hearing, a notification issued by the Government of Pakistan read.
The decision to present Khan at a special court instead of a NAB court was taken in view of security threats to his life. According to sources, the PTI chief was shifted to an unknown place late at night from NAB’s office.
“[…] the Provincial Government, as a one-time dispensation, is pleased to declare New Police Guest House, Police Lines Headquarters H 11/1, Islamabad, the venue for hearing of case titled ‘District Election Commissioner Vs Imran Khan Niazi’ and for the appearance of Mr Imran Khan Niazi before Honorable Judge Accountability Court – I, Islamabad on 10th May 2023, instead of F-8 Court Complex, Islamabad and Judicial Complex G 11/4, Islamabad,” notification issued by the provincial government, ICT read.
It should be noted that entry access to special court was only granted to people whose name was added to the court list.
Asad Umar & Shah Mehmood Arrest
Following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Secretary-General Asad Umar, party’s senior vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been arrested from Islamabad red zones the authorities crack down on the party’s leadership to restrict countrywide protests.
According to details, the former foreign minister was arrested from Islamabad Red Zone under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960.
Sources have reported that Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been taken into custody and moved to the Secretariat Police Station in the federal capital, where Asad Umar is also being held.
Earlier the PTI senior vice president instructed the party workers to continue protest until Imran Khan is released. “Such arrests and threat cannot stop us from holding peaceful protests,” he added.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi further said that the party’s senior leadership was working to highlight the ‘atrocities’ of the government, urging the party workers and supporters to reach the ‘protest sites’.
Today PTI leader Asad Umar was arrested from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC). Asad Umar was arrested from the IHC as he reached to file a petition to seek a meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
The former finance minister was arrested by the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the Islamabad police. Sources said that Asad Umar was arrested under section 16 of the Maintenance of the Public (MPO).
PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said that Asad Umar was taken into custody from outside the IHC Bar Association’s office, adding the case in which the PTI leader was arrested is still unclear.
The arrests of the both come a day after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was arrested from IHC in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Social Media and Internet Ban
Internet Services and Social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter have been blocked across Pakistan.
Social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter were blocked in Pakistan. The development came after the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan on Tuesday by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Sources within the government confirmed that social media services were temporarily blocked to avoid the propaganda.
Earlier, Internet service was also suspended in different cities of Pakistan including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and others.
Protests erupted across the country after Imran Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. PTI workers held protests in cities across the country, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Mardan.
PTI Workers threw stones at and set fire to police vehicles, tore down street lights and damaged a bus. There were reports that police fired teargas shells at the protesters. Police also fired teargas shells at protesters on Rawalpindi’s Murree Road.
Pak Army deployed in Islamabad
Authorities have declared Red alert in Islamabad district after imposing section 144. “Paramilitary rangers will be imposed at key government buildings while armed force will be deployed at various intersections and thoroughfares of the city,” sources said.
Due to ongoing political tensions, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Govt called in Army troops to control the situation. The Army also has been called in federal capital on request of DC Islamabad and Interior Ministry.
According to a letter, a requisition was forwarded by the Punjab home minister for the deployment of Pakistan Army troops under Article 245.
The Pakistan Army will assist the district administration in maintaining law and order.
Meanwhile, the army has also been summoned for support in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Ministry of Interior has approved the Punjab government’s request for assistance by sanctioning ten companies of troops, saying: “The army would be working alongside district administration to restore law, order and peace”.
The order issued by the Federal Ministry of Interior stated: “Pursuant to the request made by the Home Department Government of Punjab, vide their letter No.SO(IS-II)3-15/2023 (Security) (1) Dated 9 May 2023, the federal government in excise of powers conferred under article 245 of the constitution and Section 4 (3) (ii) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, (to discharge such functions as specified in the said act), is pleased to authorise the deployment of Pakistan Army troops/assets for maintaining law and order situations across the Punjab province in aid of civil power.”
Remember that, law and order in Pakistan especially in Punjab and KP is worsening after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.