Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan appeared before the Supreme Court on Monday which barred the authorities from arresting him till August 9 in a case linked to the murder of a prominent lawyer in Quetta. A three-member bench led by Justice Yahya Afridi issued the directives while hearing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief’s plea seeking to quash the case, the media reported. Senior lawyer Abdul Razzaq Shar was killed on June 6 by unidentified people in Quetta, capital of Balochistan province.
A day later, police registered a case and named Khan in the first information report (FIR). Shar had filed a constitutional petition against Khan in the Balochistan High Court, seeking proceedings against the ex-premier under Article 6 that pertained to high treason. The federal government and the PTI had traded blame over the incident, with both sides accusing the other of having a role in the killing. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s aide Attaullah Tarar had alleged that Shar was killed at the behest of Khan to allegedly evade accountability in a treason case. An anti-terrorism court (ATC) had subsequently issued Khan’s arrest warrant in the case, which was later upheld by the Balochistan High Court. Khan, 70, had moved the Supreme Court against naming him as an accused in the murder case, the media reported.
During Monday’s hearing, Khan appeared before the Supreme Court along with his lawyers. At the outset of the hearing, the Balochistan advocate general urged the apex court to instruct the petitioner to appear before the joint investigation team (JIT) tasked with probing the murder. The court said it will not issue any such order now. The bench, however, prevented the police from carrying out the PTI chief’s arrest in the matter and postponed the proceedings until August 9.
Imran Khan receives Bail on these cases till date
Toshakhana case
The Toshkhana case involves selling expensive gifts that he received as the PM for profit.
Terrorism case
Imran khan faces charges of ‘terrorism act’ against protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) following Khan’s disqualification from office.
Prohibited funding case
Imran’s party PTI pertains to funding obtained from Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, overseas Pakistanis and their companies and claims that there were several irregularities in the process.
Attempt to murder case
Imran Khan faces an attempted murder case filed by a PML-N member. The incident occurred outside the Election Commission of Pakistan office during a protest involving PTI workers and supporters.
