Pakistan Supreme Court To Imran Khan's Rescue? Orders To Be Produced In An Hour

The Pakistan Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial has directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to produce former prime minister Imran Khan before the court within an hour.

The three-judge bench comprises CJP Bandial, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah. "The court will issue an appropriate order today" and the "court is very serious," the CJP said, issuing the order to NAB.

According to a report by Dawn, security has been strengthened around the Pakistan's Supreme Court.

Khan was arrested by the Pakistani Rangers from the Islamabad High Court, which has led to widespread violence in the country.

Following his arrest, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) workers — Imran Khan's political party — had marched towards the General Headquarters of Army in Rawalpindi, military controlled areas and burned down corps commander’s residence in Lahore.

The protests turned violent as police vehicles were vandalised and many vehicles were damaged using steel rods, bricks, stones, blocks, and batons.

The protests have spread to several cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. Police forces used water cannons and batons to disperse the crowds, resulting in the deaths of more than eight civilians.

To prevent further violence, mobile Internet services have been shut down and continue to be restricted for the third consecutive day.

Senior leaders of PTI, including Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhary have been arrested. Additionally, over 1,600 PTI workers have also been arrested.

Khan is accused by the NAB, the country’s anti-corruption watchdog, of receiving billions of rupees from a real estate firm to legalise laundered money that the UK returned to Pakistan during the tenure of his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s government.

A court in Islamabad granted NAB an eight-day remand of Khan yesterday. In addition, another trial court in Islamabad has indicted Khan on the Toshkhana case, as well where he is accused of illegally selling gifts from foreign dignitaries for personal benefit.