Pakistan Court Overturns Imran Khan’s Physical Remand in May 9 Cases

Thu Jul 25 2024
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Staff Reporter
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LAHORE: A high court in Pakistan on Thursday overturned jailed Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s physical remand in a dozen new cases related to last year’s May 9 riots.

The arrest of Imran Khan, who has been in jail since October last year, in these cases immediately after the former premier and his wife Bushra Bibi were rearrested in a fresh Toshakhana case, following their acquittal in the Iddat case, which had almost led to their release from jail.

Despite the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) verdict on the physical remand, Imran Khan and his spouse will remain in custody in a case related to the new Toshakhana case, in which both are on psychical remand of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), a matter they have challenged in the Islamabad High Court.

Imran Khan, aged 71, has been incarcerated at Adiala Jail for nearly a year following convictions in four cases: two Toshakhana references, the cipher case, and the Iddat case, where his wife Bushra Bibi is also detained.

While Imran Khan’s sentences in the Toshakhana references were suspended, he was acquitted in the cipher case by the Islamabad High Court in June. On July 13, the Islamabad district and sessions court also accepted appeals by Imran Khan and his wife and quashed their conviction in the illegal marriage Iddat case.

Despite numerous acquittals in various cases since the May 9, 2023 events—triggered by his arrest causing riots nationwide—Imran Khan and his party leaders face several cases.

Imran Khan was granted an eight-day remand in the Toshakhana case on July 14, while Lahore police simultaneously detained him in connection with a dozen new cases related to the May 9 incidents. An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) granted a 10-day physical remand, reducing the initial request to 30 days.

On July 18, Imran Khan approached the Lahore High Court challenging his physical remand in these 12 criminal cases, arguing against the legality of the ATC order and seeking transfer from police to judicial custody.

After issuing notices on Tuesday, a division bench of the LHC requested the prosecution to justify the necessity for Imran Khan’s physical remand.

Today, Justices Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Anwarul Haq Pannun resumed the hearing, with Advocate Salman Safdar representing Imran Khan and Punjab Prosecutor General Farhad Ali Shah present.

The court declared the former Prime Minister’s remand unlawful and also nullified a notification allowing Imran Khan’s appearance via video link due to security concerns.

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Afghanistan continues to pose multiple security threats to neighborly countries. Afghan interim government commonly known as the Taliban regime recently celebrated the third anniversary of their takeover of Kabul. Taliban’s speedy takeover and the quick meltdown of the Ashraf Ghani regime both are remembered as meaningful surprising events in the checkered history of Afghanistan. The subsequent withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan triggered numerous intriguing questions. The apparent hasty withdrawal of American forces though celebrated as a victory by the Taliban however it could not bring any stability to Afghanistan. Though withdrawal took place under Joe Biden’s watch, however, the grounds were prepared by the Trump administration prior to leaving the white house consequent to election defeat. The arrival of the Taliban in Kabul as an uncontested force on 15th Aug 2021 made the whole American campaign a shadowy affair stretched over almost two decades. Critiques are justified in questioning the outcome of such a lengthy military and political campaign orchestrated by the USA in Afghanistan. No satisfactory response has ever surfaced from the State Department and Pentagon sides about the quick meltdown of the Afghan National Army. It is obvious that the surprisingly expeditious winding up of the Ashraf Ghani regime further exposed the weaknesses of the whole American prescription applied to heal Afghanistan. The multiple damaging effects of the ill-conceived strategy on the war-torn society of Afghanistan are not too difficult to understand. Present-day Afghanistan is more polarized and unsettled under the Taliban’s unelected regime. The demolition of the political façade in August 2021 was not a sudden development but rather a much-expected outcome of the dubious Doha agreement. Analysts having fair insight into the Afghan dynamics were apprehensive about the American deal with the Taliban while Ashraf Ghani was very much present in the office of President. Simply put, the American direct agreement with the Taliban in Doha was actually the beginning of the end of Ashraf Ghani's regime. Bitterness in bilateral ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been constantly growing over the issue of cross-border terrorism. Against all the positive expectations of Islamabad, the interim Afghan government has not responded against the Khawarij which comprises the banned TTP and its numerous splinter groups. Ironically, the Taliban regime is providing all sorts of support to those Khawarij terrorists who are involved in attacks on Pakistani security forces, unarmed civilians and military installations. Facts and figures clearly reflect the alarming rise in cross-border terrorist attacks inside Pakistan after the arrival of the Taliban on Kabul’s throne. Pakistan has rightly questioned the liberty of action granted to the Khawarij terrorists on Afghan soil by the interim Taliban setup. These genuine security concerns have been conveyed to the Taliban regime through all available channels. Repeated engagements from the Pakistan side via diplomatic, political, religious and media channels, nothing positive could not gain any breakthrough in finishing the bloody cycle of terrorism. Growing security concerns gradually taking the shape of anger in Pakistan because huge losses to men and materials are crossing the limits of patience. Unwise rulers of Kabul are acting against the interests of a neighbor like Pakistan who always stood alongside Afghan brethren in hours of need. It seems that sympathizers of Khawarij (banned TTP) are now dominating the interim Afghan government and saner elements have lost their say in the decision-making process. Multiple reports released by the UN, EU and international watchdogs have revealed undeniable information about the active presence of global terrorist groups in Afghanistan. The Taliban regime is in denial mode and seems in a mood to continue with the present harmful policies. The loud arrogance of Taliban officials on the highly objectionable stance about cross-border terrorism is endangering regional peace. In a recent statement, the military chief of the interim Afghan government Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat has denied any presence of banned TTP elements in Afghanistan. This absurd denial is credible evidence of the Taliban’s contradicting stance about the presence of Khawarij (Banned TTP) on Afghan soil. How Qari Fasihullah Fitrat can ask for evidence of Khawarij’s existence while Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzadah urged Afghans through a fatwa to refrain from joining the terrorism spree of banned TTP against Pakistan last year. 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