Pakistan`s Supreme Court (SC) today termed PTI Chairman Imran Khan`s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case "unlawful" and directed him to appear before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) tomorrow.
It instructed that Imran should be "immediately released".
The top court said that the PTI chief would be kept at the Police Lines Guest House but would not be considered a prisoner, and directed the Islamabad police chief to ensure the ex-premier`s security.
"The government would have to guarantee Imran`s security," Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial directed.
The orders were issued as a three-judge bench comprising the CJP, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah resumed hearing Imran`s plea against his arrest. Earlier in the day, the court had directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to present Imran before the court.
Subsequently, the PTI chief was presented in court amid tight security a little after 5:45pm. A Dawn.com correspondent present at the scene said that the former prime minister was taken inside the SC via the judges` gate.
When the hearing resumed, after Imran`s arrival in court, the CJP called the PTI chairman to the rostrum and said: "Happy to see you."
"There have been incidents of violence after your arrest," Justice Bandial said, adding, "We want peace in the country."
"It is being said that your
workers came out in rage," he said and told Imran that the court wanted to hear him.The top judge observed that the PTI chief was present in the IHC`s biometric courtroom on May 9. "When a person comes to the court of law, it means that he surrenders before the court."
Justice Bandial then remarked that Imran`s arrest was "illegal" and directed the PTI chief to approach the IHC. "You will have to accept the high court`s decision," the top judge said, reiterating that Imran had to appear before IHC tomorrow (Friday).
The CJP also said that Imran would be kept in a guest house supervised by the SC and directed the Islamabad police chief to ensure the PTI chief`s security.
At one point, Imran appealed to the court to let him stay at his Banigala residence in Islamabad but the CJP told him that he was under the court`s supervision.
"We don`t want you to be harmed," Justice Bandial said, reiterating his directives for the government to ensure all the needed security arrangements for Imran.
"The case will resume from where the matters became complicated," the top judge remarked, adding that a written order will be issued soon.
Imran asks supporters to remain peaceful
After the CJP passed the order, Imran, while still in the court, said that no harm should be caused to the country and asked his supporters to remain peaceful.
"We only want elections in the country," he maintained.
The PTI chief stated that he was told by his lawyers a day earlier that "there is anarchy in the country" and asserted: "We don`t want anarchy in the country."
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