Imran appears via video link as SC resumes hearing NAB laws case

The Supreme Court has resumed hearings on changes to accountability laws, with former Prime Minister Imran Khan appearing via video link as a petitioner. Previously, the court had directed the federal and Punjab governments to facilitate Khan’s appearance from Adiala Jail. Justice Athar Minallah emphasized that the court could not deny the ex-premier an audience if he wished to appear.

The hearing is conducted by a five-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, including Justices Aminuddin Khan, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Athar Minallah, and Hasan Azhar Rizvi. This session follows the Supreme Court’s Tuesday order to ensure Khan's appearance via video link.

Why This matters: Unlike the previous hearing, this session is not being live-streamed. This marks Imran Khan’s first public appearance since his arrest in August last year in the Toshakhana case, despite Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar’s reservations about the Supreme Court’s directives.

Recently, the Islamabad High Court granted Khan bail in the £190 million case, citing reasonable grounds. Additionally, an Islamabad sessions court acquitted him in a 2022 case related to the Azadi March. However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party expressed concerns about a visitor ban in Adiala Jail, suggesting it was meant to keep Khan away from court proceedings.

PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan alleged at a press conference that Imran Khan’s security guards were abruptly changed at midnight over the past two days. He also mentioned that hearings in the Al-Qadir Trust, cipher, and Toshakhana cases were postponed under various pretexts, and the government’s counsel in the Iddat case suddenly left the country. These developments have raised suspicions within the PTI regarding the government's intentions to isolate their party leader from the ongoing legal processes.

The Supreme Court's handling of this high-profile case continues to draw significant attention, highlighting the complex legal and political challenges in Pakistan.

Key Takeaways:

• Imran Khan appeared via video link for Supreme Court hearing.
• Court facilitated Khan's appearance from Adiala Jail amid legal battles.
• Khan granted bail in £190 million case, acquitted in Azadi March.
• PTI concerned about visitor ban at Adiala Jail isolating Khan.
• PTI suspects security changes and legal delays are government tactics.