ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad Thursday quashed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan’s pre-arrest bail plea in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
PTI chairman and his wife Bushra Bibi’s legal representative Khawaja Haris appeared before the court as Judge Muhammad Bashir heard the case.
Khawaja Haris filed a petition seeking exemption from the hearing in both cases citing legal precedents from the Supreme Court. He said that the absence of the accused, if in custody, would be duly investigated by the court itself. He also cited a related case in the Lahore High Court.
Addressing the court, Khawaja Haris requested for a chance to be heard. “Our intentions are not to delay proceedings intentionally,” he said.
However, NAB Prosecutor, Sardar Muzaffar Bassi, countered the argument by asserting that an arrest in one case should not preclude the possibility of arrest in other cases. He opposed the bail plea. In response, Judge Muhammad Basheer remarked, “Our aim today is to ensure fair justice.”
Judge Muhammad Bashir raised queries regarding the absence of a warrant for Imran’s spouse, Bushra Bibi and inquired about the whereabouts of the investigating officer. Sardar Muzaffar Bassi told the court that there was no directive for her arrest at this stage.
Khawaja Haris told the court that the case has now progressed into an investigative stage. Following the session, Bushra Bibi left the premises, taking her place in a waiting vehicle. The court, meanwhile, issued a directive restraining NAB from effecting an arrest on Bushra Bibi.
