The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered the Adiala Jail officials to arrange meeting of the former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan’s meeting with his lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
A two-member bench of the IHC, comprising Chief Justice (CJ) Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif, gave the order during the hearing of petitions filed by Imran and his wife for the suspension of their sentences in 190 million Pounds case (Al-Qadir Trust case).
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Special Prosecutors Javed Ashraf and Rafay Maqsood and PTI founder’s lawyer Barrister Safdar appeared in court.
Speaking on the occasion, the lawyer said that the court had given an order on March 31.
“The bench accepts the miscellaneous application filed by Barrister Safdar,” CJ Dogar said.
Addressing Barrister Safdar, the chief justice said, “Go and meet your client, Imran Khan tomorrow.”
He inquired from the lawyer at which time he would like to meet Imran.
The latter replied that at 2:00 in the afternoon.
Later the court adjourned the case’s hearing until day after tomorrow (April 9).
The IHC had last Tuesday allowed Barrister Salman Safdar, counsel for former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, to take instructions from his client presently incarcerated at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi in 190 million Pounds case (Al-Qadir Trust case).
During the hearing of petitions filed by Imran and his wife Bushra Bibi, seeking the suspension of their sentences in the case, IHC CJ Dogar, while addressing Barrister Safdar, said, “Go to Adiala Jail tomorrow and discuss the case with Imran. And the court will fix the case for the hearing on Monday.”
A two-member bench, comprising the CJ and Justice Muhammad Asif, heard the petitions.
During the hearing, Barrister Safdar requested the court to grant him permission to meet the former prime minister.
He said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) wanted to prolong his client’s imprisonment.
Barrister said that the NAB had become personal with the PTI founder. “My client was arrested in connection with the case on May 9. The Supreme Court later acquitted him,” he said, adding that Imran had lost vision in his right eye.
Speaking on the occasion, the NAB’s prosecutor said it was Barrister Safdar’s claim that the case could be wound up in 10 minutes. “If that is the case, then what is stopping him from giving arguments in the case?” he questioned.
The chief justice said the court did not accept NAB’s plea in which it had argued that the petitions submitted by the couple, seeking suspension of their sentences, were inadmissible for the hearing. “The court declares these petitions admissible for the hearing,” the CJ remarked.
Reporter: Ihtesham Kiani