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ISLAMABAD: In a huge relief to Imran Khan, Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday declared the former prime minister’s arrest “unlawful” and ordered his immediate release after appearing before a judicial panel on its orders.
The order to remove the 70-year-old Khan was given by a three-member judicial panel, which includes Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bendial, Judge Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Judge Athar Than Allah.
The court, which heard the appeal of the President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf against his arrest in the Qadir Trust case, was outraged by the manner in which Khan had been detained from the seat of the Supreme Court in Islamabad.
The court had directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to bring Khan in by 4:30 pm (local time) when the court reconvened.
Khan appeared in court amidst tight security. Once he entered the courtroom, it was closed, and after that, the court resumed hearing the case.
“It’s good to see you,” Chief Justice Pandial told Khan.
“We believe it Omran “Khan’s arrest was illegal,” the judge said.
He said the case would be heard by the Islamabad High Court on Friday. “You will have to accept what the Supreme Court decides,” the judge added.
Pandial also said that it is the responsibility of every politician to ensure law and order.
Earlier today, Pandial asked how can a person be arrested from the court premises. Judge Minullah noticed that Khan had already entered the courthouse. “How can anyone be denied the right to justice?” Asked.
The court also noted that no person from the court could be arrested without the permission of the court clerk. It noted that arrest is tantamount to denying access to justice without fear and intimidation, which is the right of every citizen.
She also said that entering the court building means surrendering to the court and how a person can be arrested after surrendering. “If a person surrenders to the court, what does it mean to arrest him?” said the presiding judge.
Khan’s lawyer, Hamid Khan, told the court that his client had applied to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) asking for pre-arrest bail, but was arrested by the Rangers paramilitaries.
The lawyer said the Rangers misbehaved with Imran Khan and arrested him.
The court also took note that about 90 to 100 Rangers entered the court to arrest Khan. “What is the dignity of the court if 90 people enter its premises? How can any individual from the court building be arrested?” asked the presiding judge.
As Chief Justice Pandial noted at this moment the NAB had committed “contempt of court”. They should have obtained permission from the court clerk before the arrest. Court staff have also been subjected to abuse.
Khan was arrested on Tuesday from the Islamabad High Court and handed over by the Accountability Court on Wednesday to the National Accountability Bureau for eight days in connection with the Al Qadir Trust case.
The former chief minister on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court to quash the NAB’s May 1 warrants for his arrest and appeal the Islamabad High Court’s decision declaring the arrest “unlawful”.
Earlier, the IHC had expressed outrage at the manner in which Khan had been arrested, and upheld his arrest hours after his deportation.
The order to remove the 70-year-old Khan was given by a three-member judicial panel, which includes Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bendial, Judge Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Judge Athar Than Allah.
The court, which heard the appeal of the President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf against his arrest in the Qadir Trust case, was outraged by the manner in which Khan had been detained from the seat of the Supreme Court in Islamabad.
The court had directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to bring Khan in by 4:30 pm (local time) when the court reconvened.
Khan appeared in court amidst tight security. Once he entered the courtroom, it was closed, and after that, the court resumed hearing the case.
“It’s good to see you,” Chief Justice Pandial told Khan.
“We believe it Omran “Khan’s arrest was illegal,” the judge said.
He said the case would be heard by the Islamabad High Court on Friday. “You will have to accept what the Supreme Court decides,” the judge added.
Pandial also said that it is the responsibility of every politician to ensure law and order.
Earlier today, Pandial asked how can a person be arrested from the court premises. Judge Minullah noticed that Khan had already entered the courthouse. “How can anyone be denied the right to justice?” Asked.
The court also noted that no person from the court could be arrested without the permission of the court clerk. It noted that arrest is tantamount to denying access to justice without fear and intimidation, which is the right of every citizen.
She also said that entering the court building means surrendering to the court and how a person can be arrested after surrendering. “If a person surrenders to the court, what does it mean to arrest him?” said the presiding judge.
Khan’s lawyer, Hamid Khan, told the court that his client had applied to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) asking for pre-arrest bail, but was arrested by the Rangers paramilitaries.
The lawyer said the Rangers misbehaved with Imran Khan and arrested him.
The court also took note that about 90 to 100 Rangers entered the court to arrest Khan. “What is the dignity of the court if 90 people enter its premises? How can any individual from the court building be arrested?” asked the presiding judge.
As Chief Justice Pandial noted at this moment the NAB had committed “contempt of court”. They should have obtained permission from the court clerk before the arrest. Court staff have also been subjected to abuse.
Khan was arrested on Tuesday from the Islamabad High Court and handed over by the Accountability Court on Wednesday to the National Accountability Bureau for eight days in connection with the Al Qadir Trust case.
The former chief minister on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court to quash the NAB’s May 1 warrants for his arrest and appeal the Islamabad High Court’s decision declaring the arrest “unlawful”.
Earlier, the IHC had expressed outrage at the manner in which Khan had been arrested, and upheld his arrest hours after his deportation.
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