Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday turned down a request for an urgent meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
Earlier, the apex court had scheduled hearings for 13 petitions related to Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. PTI’s memorandum requesting jail visitation rights for its leader was forwarded to the appropriate executive authorities for legal consideration.
The request, submitted by senior PTI leader Latif Khosa, was rejected by the two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan. The court observed that it could not grant such an order without first issuing notice to the government. Subsequently, a notice was issued to the government for Tuesday.
Addressing Khosa during the proceedings, CJP Afridi noted, “We first need to address the maintainability of the application. Keep in mind that other cases involving the petitioner are pending in various courts.” He further remarked that the petition appeared to have become infructuous, referencing a previous August 24, 2023, order.
Formation of Bench for Imran Khan’s cipher case
The Supreme Court also announced the formation of a three-member bench to hear appeals against Imran Khan’s acquittal in the cipher case. A similar bench will hear appeals against PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s acquittal in the same matter.
During the hearing of Imran Khan’s bail plea in the Al-Qadir University Trust case, the court dismissed the petition as infructuous.
Chief Justice reviewed all petitions filed against Imran Khan: Salman Safdar
Speaking to the media afterward, Imran’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, said, “The Chief Justice reviewed all petitions filed against Imran Khan today. Every case in which he previously received relief has had appeals filed by the government. The cipher case was one of Pakistan’s most high-profile trials, and its outcome was clear. All ongoing cases are still pending.”
Safdar added that the Supreme Court had historically granted relief to the PTI leader, but his team’s request for a meeting with the Chief Justice had been denied. “In the last five months, we’ve only had a brief five-minute meeting with the former premier. None of our cases are being fixed for hearings, and there is a de facto ban on our meetings,” he said, criticizing the simultaneous hearing of 14 petitions as politically motivated.
He further stated that he represents Imran Khan in over 300 cases, with 58 bail petitions pending before Judge Afzal Majoka. Safdar noted that the defense had yet to raise medical grounds in court for bail but emphasized that the PTI founder’s health should not be ignored.
cases were not being scheduled in IHC : Salman Akram Raja
Separately, PTI leader Salman Akram Raja told reporters that the party had submitted a memorandum highlighting that cases were not being scheduled in the Islamabad High Court (IHC). “The hearings conducted today were largely government petitions, and none of the cases in which we seek relief have been fixed,” he said.
Raja added, “Khan Sahib is not allowed to meet us, nor is he kept informed of developments. We were only provided an incomplete medical report. While hope for justice seems limited, we will continue to pursue it through the courts.”