Islamabad: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the anti-corruption watchdog to produce the former prime minister Imran Khan Within an hour it was noticed that the agency had committed “contempt of court” by entering the court premises and arresting him without permission from the registrar of the court.
The direction was issued by a three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, who was hearing the plea of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman against his arrest. Athar Minallah were present. Al-Qadir Trust Case on Tuesday.
During the hearing, the bench expressed displeasure over the arrest of 70-year-old Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court, where he had come from Lahore for a case.
The bench directed the NAB to produce Khan by 4.30 pm (local time), when the court would resume sitting.
At the outset of the hearing, Chief Justice Bandyal asked how a person could be arrested from the court premises. Justice Minallah found that Khan had indeed entered the court premises. “How can anyone be denied the right to justice?” He asked.
The court also said that no one can be arrested from the court without the permission of the registrar of the court. It was also observed that arrest without fear and information tantamount to denial of access to justice, which was the right of every citizen.
It also said that entering the premises of the court means surrendering to the court and how a person can be arrested after surrender. “If a person surrenders in court, what is the point of arresting them?” said the Chief Justice.
Khan’s lawyer Hamid Khan informed the court that his client had approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for anticipatory bail, but paramilitary Rangers arrested him.
The lawyer said, “The rangers misbehaved with Imran Khan and arrested him.”
The court also took note of the entry of around 90 to 100 Rangers personnel into the court to arrest Khan. “What is the dignity of the court if 90 people enter its premises? How can a person be arrested from the court premises?” the Chief Justice asked.
Chief Justice Bandyal also said at this point that the National Accountability Bureau had committed “contempt of court”. He should have taken permission from the registrar of the court before arrest. Court staff were also misbehaved,” he said.
Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday and an accountability court on Wednesday handed him over to the National Accountability Bureau for eight days in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The former prime minister on Wednesday approached the apex court challenging the Islamabad High Court’s decision to quash NAB’s May 1 warrant for his arrest and declare the arrest as “illegal”.
Earlier, the IHC had upheld Khan’s arrest hours after he was arrested, expressing anger at the manner in which he was held.
The direction was issued by a three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, who was hearing the plea of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman against his arrest. Athar Minallah were present. Al-Qadir Trust Case on Tuesday.
During the hearing, the bench expressed displeasure over the arrest of 70-year-old Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court, where he had come from Lahore for a case.
The bench directed the NAB to produce Khan by 4.30 pm (local time), when the court would resume sitting.
At the outset of the hearing, Chief Justice Bandyal asked how a person could be arrested from the court premises. Justice Minallah found that Khan had indeed entered the court premises. “How can anyone be denied the right to justice?” He asked.
The court also said that no one can be arrested from the court without the permission of the registrar of the court. It was also observed that arrest without fear and information tantamount to denial of access to justice, which was the right of every citizen.
It also said that entering the premises of the court means surrendering to the court and how a person can be arrested after surrender. “If a person surrenders in court, what is the point of arresting them?” said the Chief Justice.
Khan’s lawyer Hamid Khan informed the court that his client had approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for anticipatory bail, but paramilitary Rangers arrested him.
The lawyer said, “The rangers misbehaved with Imran Khan and arrested him.”
The court also took note of the entry of around 90 to 100 Rangers personnel into the court to arrest Khan. “What is the dignity of the court if 90 people enter its premises? How can a person be arrested from the court premises?” the Chief Justice asked.
Chief Justice Bandyal also said at this point that the National Accountability Bureau had committed “contempt of court”. He should have taken permission from the registrar of the court before arrest. Court staff were also misbehaved,” he said.
Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday and an accountability court on Wednesday handed him over to the National Accountability Bureau for eight days in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The former prime minister on Wednesday approached the apex court challenging the Islamabad High Court’s decision to quash NAB’s May 1 warrant for his arrest and declare the arrest as “illegal”.
Earlier, the IHC had upheld Khan’s arrest hours after he was arrested, expressing anger at the manner in which he was held.