Lawyers allowed to meet Imran as trial in Al-Qadir Trust case begins

Earlier, the legal team and PTI leaders were denied meeting Imran

RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Authorities on Wednesday allowed Khawaja Haris, Barrister Gohar and Ali Bukhari to meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan at the New Police Guest House, Police Lines.

Earlier, the legal team and PTI leaders were denied meeting Imran.

Imran’s legal team was stopped at NUST University Chowk while PTI leaders Babar Awan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Asad Umar were also not allowed to enter the Police Lines.

Awan told a private news channel that not only legal team, no one was allowed to meet Imran.

Imran is being tried in Al-Qadir Trust case, a land deal case on the charges of which he was arrested from Islamabad High Court on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Additional Session’s Judge Humayun Dilawar has reached the Police Lines who is also hearing Toshakhana case against Imran Khan.

Sources said that the NAB officials would request the court for a 14-day physical remand of Imran Khan.

Guest House declared as court

Earlier, the guest house was declared as the court where Imran Khan's trial would be held, Dunya News reported.

Sources said cases relating to NAB and Toshakhana will be heard at the New Police Guest House, Police Lines Headquarters instead of F-8 Court Complex and Judicial Complex G-11/4 Islamabad.

A notification in this regard has also been issued. As per the notification, the judges who will hear the NAB and Toshakhana cases will go to the Police Lines Headquarters H11/1 Islamabad.

Before hearing, the legal team has been denied permission to meet the party chief ahead of the hearing on Al-Qadir Trust case, a land deal case on the charges of which he was arrested a day earlier.

“We were barred from meeting our client,” Babar Awan, a part of Khan’s legal team, told a news channel. He added nobody is being allowed to meet the PTI chief which is against the Constitution.

 

Sources claimed that the PTI chief had been shifted to the Police Lines Guest House. On the other hand, Police Lines Guest House has been given the status of a sub-jail by the federal government on the NAB request and Imran Khan will remain there if physical remand was granted in the NAB case.

It is pertinent to mention here that a team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), with the help of Rangers, on Tuesday took the former prime minister into custody in the Al-Qadir Trust case, prompting the IHC to take note. The NAB adopted a view that Imran Khan didn't respond to the notices sent to him and his arrest was 'completely in line with law and as per NAB ordinance'.

Saifullah Niazi, a cousin of Imran Khan, said the PTI chief had been arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court where he appeared in two cases. He was shifted to the NAB Rawalpindi office. The NAB team was assisted by the Pakistan Rangers personnel in the operation.

NAB custody

Sources claimed that Imran Khan is likely to remain under the custody of NAB for four to five days, as the bureau requested the court for his maximum remand allowed under the law.

They said the NAB officials would do their best to keep him under custody for at least four to five days. Under new amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, the duration of physical remand has been cut from 90 days to 14 days, granted by any court.

Sources said the accountability watchdog would seek the maximum physical remand of 14 days from the court.

Arrest

A team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), with the help of Rangers, on Tuesday took former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan into custody in the Al-Qadir Trust case, prompting the IHC to take note. The NAB adopted a view that Imran Khan did not respond to the notices sent to him and his arrest was 'completely in line with law and as per NAB ordinance'.

Saifullah Niazi, a cousin of Imran Khan, said the PTI chief had been arrested on the premises of the Islamabad High Court where he appeared in two cases. He was shifted to the NAB Rawalpindi office. The NAB team was assisted by the Pakistan Rangers personnel in the operation.

The Islamabad IGP, in a tweet, said Imran Khan had been arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case. He said Mr Khan had been shown the warrant before arrest.

He further said section 144 had been imposed in the capital city and there was peace. According to a report, Bushra Bibi has challenged the NAB inquiry into the case in the IHC, which has admitted the plea for hearing.

PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry also confirmed the arrest of Imran Khan.