The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday sought a 14-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan as hearing on Al-Qadir Trust case — a land deal case on the charges of which he was arrested a day earlier — began at a location of former premier’s custody.
Sources told Geo News that Khan’s legal team was 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.
The former prime minister was arrested on Tuesday by Rangers on the orders of the NAB, an autonomous anti-graft agency, in relation to Al-Qadir Trust case.
He was then moved to its headquarters in the garrison town of Rawalpindi for questioning.
Later, announcing the reserved verdict on Khan’s arrest, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) said that the arrest was legal; therefore, Khan’s legal team intends to challenge his arrest in the Supreme Court today.
Hearing takes place at location of Khan’s custody
It should be noted that Khan was not brought to the court and his scheduled hearing took place at the location where he was under custody.
The Islamabad chief commissioner earlier 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 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.
He has been presented before the accountability and magistrate court simultaneously and for the first time judges arrived for the hearing at the guest house.
It should be noted that entry access to special court have only been granted to people according to the court list, while the permission for
