The Islamabad High Court has issued notices to the parties concerned and adjourned hearing till September 14 in the case of rejection of Imran Khan’s bail in nine cases of May 9 incidents, judicial complex attack and forgery, on the basis of non-appearance.
A division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri heard the petition.
The PTI chairman’s lawyer said his client got bail in five cases of similar charges, while before a decision of the anti-terrorism court in the remaining three cases, the judge was shifted.
The court had given more time to the prosecution to present evidence in the three cases, he went on to say.
“Has the PTI chairman been arrested in these cases?” Justice Jahangiri asked. The counsel replied in the negative, to which the judge asked how it was possible that the bail had been rejected but the arrest not made.
“If the arrest has not been made, you will present arguments on this plea,” Justice Jahangiri said.
Earlier, Barrister Safdar said Imran Khan’s bail was rejected on technical grounds, adding that when a suspect is arrested he cannot appear in court himself.
Cipher disappearance case
Meanwhile, in another case against the jail trial of the PTI chairman in the cipher disappearance case, the FIA counsel sought a week to submit their reply.
Imran Khan’s lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat requested that a restraining order be issued on any notification at the next hearing of the case.
The counsel expressed his fear that a notification could be issued before the next hearing. CJ Farooq said to let it happen as it would not make any difference. “Tell the court at the next hearing under which authority the Interior Ministry issued the notification.”
The chief justice asked that if the trial court ordered to keep the suspect in Adiala Jail then why he was shifted to Attock Jail?
The assistant advocate general remarked that the Islamabad IGP has the authority to shift any suspect to another jail.
The CJ remarked that since Islamabad does not have its own jail, the suspects are kept in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.
“Was a decision made to keep the suspect in Attock Jail after his sentence was suspended,” the CJ inquired.
The court ordered to arrange a meeting of lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat with his client Imran Khan in the jai. The court then adjourned the hearing till September 12.
Jail facilities for Imran Khan
The Islamabad High Court adjourned the hearing on PTI Chairman Imran Khan's request regarding facilities in the prison till September 11. Chief Justice Amir Farooq said if there was any notification to keep Imran Khan in Attock Jail after the suspension of his sentence, it should be submitted.
The prosecutor said the PTI chairman has been provided a better class in the jail.
The petitioner’s counsel Sher Afzal Marwat claimed his client was transferred to Attock Jail only to cause him more pain. Adiala Jail has better security arrangements and B class facilities as well, he added.
It is his right to be transferred to Adiala jail and avail B class facilities, the lawyer argued.
He further said that when Bushra Bibi went to meet her husband Imran Khan in jail, there was an attempt to file a case against her on the allegations that she tried to bribe an official with Rs20,000.
The prosecutor told the court that the B class facilities has already been abolished, now there is only normal and improved classes. Imran Khan has been provided a better class in jail, he argued.
The walls of the bathroom have been raised and a commode fixed, a 21-inch TV installed, and five newspapers provided.
“The facilities they want in Adiala Jail are also being provided in Attock,” the prosecutor told the court.
The assistant advocate general said the PTI chairman was given his choice of food, while five doctors were also appointed for him.
