Today, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan is set to appear before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for a hearing regarding the Al-Qadir Trust case. According to reports, the Supreme Court had issued orders for Khan to appear before the IHC regarding the case, deeming his recent “unlawful” arrest as an issue of concern. The apex court also ordered for Khan to be held in police custody for his own safety until his court appearance.
A three-member bench led by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq will conduct the hearing for Khan’s bail petition. The Islamabad Police confirmed that Khan met with 10 people last night, which included President Arif Alvi and Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid. Khan’s personal physician, Dr. Faisal, and a member of his legal team also visited him at the police guest house.
Following the hearing, Khan is set to address his supporters and party workers at the Srinagar Highway G-13.
Background of the Al-Qadir Trust case
The case involves former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and other PTI leaders who are facing a NAB inquiry related to a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer. The charges against them suggest that Khan and others adjusted Rs50 billion — 190 million pounds at the time — sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government and obtained undue benefits in the form of over 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al Qadir University.
Previously, on May 9, Khan had appeared before the same court and bench in order to obtain pre-arrest bail in regards to the land corruption case. However, he was later taken into custody by paramilitary troops based on the directive of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from the court’s biometric department. The IHC later held a hearing to determine whether his arrest from the court premises was legal or not, and eventually deemed it lawful. However, yesterday, the Supreme Court overturned this verdict and declared Khan’s arrest as “illegal” while ordering him to appear before the IHC today.
This is a developing story and will be updated with more details.