Supreme Court Defers Meeting Request With Imran Khan, Issues Notice to Government
Islamabad
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant immediate permission for a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, directing instead that notice be issued to the government for further consideration on Tuesday.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi told Imran Khan’s counsel, Latif Khosa, that the court could not issue such an order without first hearing the government’s position.
Court Raises Maintainability Objection
“We cannot pass any order without issuing notice,” the chief justice observed. He added that the court must first address objections regarding the maintainability of the petition before proceeding further.
The chief justice also noted that related cases involving Imran Khan are pending before other courts, remarking that, in the court’s view, the present petition appeared to have become infructuous.
Benches Formed for Cipher Case Appeals
During the hearing, the court ordered the formation of a three-member bench to hear appeals against Imran Khan’s acquittal in the cipher case. In a separate order, it also directed the constitution of a three-member bench to hear appeals against the acquittal of former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the same matter.
Meanwhile, a two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Afridi dismissed Imran Khan’s bail petition in the Al-Qadir Trust case, declaring it infructuous.
Multiple Bail Pleas Dismissed
The court also dismissed applications seeking cancellation of bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case on the same grounds. Similarly, in the Toshakhana case, applications for cancellation of bail granted to Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were dismissed as infructuous.
In addition, the court ordered the formation of a three-member bench to hear applications for cancellation of bail related to the May 9 incidents in Lahore. The court adjourned hearings in the cipher case and the May 9 cases for two weeks.
Meeting Request to Be Decided Later
Latif Khosa renewed his request for permission to meet his client. In response, the chief justice said the court would decide the matter after issuing notice to the government.
“We will also decide regarding the meeting tomorrow,” the chief justice said, before adjourning the proceedings until Tuesday.
Lawyer Criticises Case Handling
Speaking to the media outside the court, Imran Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar said the chief justice heard all cases involving the PTI founder, calling the situation “a troubling example” of legal treatment in the country.
He claimed that in every case where Imran Khan received relief, the government filed appeals seeking reversal. Referring to the cipher trial, Safdar described it as “Pakistan’s most expensive case” and pointed to its eventual outcome.
Safdar said hearings in active cases continue to face adjournments and complained that meetings with his client remain restricted. He added that despite these limitations, the defence has not sought bail on medical grounds.
He expressed hope that the court would allow the meeting with Imran Khan on Tuesday and urged authorities to fix bail petitions, including those of Bushra Bibi, for hearing without further delay.
Concluding his remarks, Safdar called for equal treatment of all accused persons, urging the justice system to maintain fairness and consistency.
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