ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court on Friday approved a plea to produce Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and party leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in court and directed the authorities to ensure the production of the politicians on April 20.
A petition seeking their submission was heard by Justice Mureed Abbas in connection with the parliamentary attack case against Imran Khan and others, in which former prime minister’s lawyer Naeem Panjotha presented his arguments. The lawyer claimed during the hearing that the warden of Adiala jail would not obey the order of any court.
He insisted that the court ensure that the jail officials comply with the orders and produce Khan. He added that the jail authorities are making excuses and the PTI founder is not even produced for hearing through video link.
Based on Panjotha’s arguments, the trial judge said that Khan is in Adiala jail and the situation is different and even though there is an option of video link, the participation is in electronic court. The prime minister’s former counsel said the court should order Khan to be produced in the courtroom.
“The Supreme Court has ruled that a meeting with a political leader can be held via video link,” Panjotha added that the internet is working in Adiala Jail but only in the case of the PTI founder it stopped working. “Superintendent of Adiala Jail is afraid to bring PTI founder on video link,” the lawyer said.
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Earlier this week, Pandora filed a motion in court to produce his client for a hearing regarding his acquittal in two cases related to vandalism during the long march. However, Judicial Magistrate Shaista Kundi of the District and Sessions Court dismissed the plea citing security concerns.
“Who will be responsible if anything happens on the way to bring the PTI founder to court?” the judge remarked. The lawyer argued that Khan had previously appeared in court alone. “The government’s job is to provide security,” he said, adding that the PTI founder’s legal team wanted to present its arguments in his presence. “Participation in bail would be necessary,” the judge argued and dismissed the lawsuit.
