The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday rejected the request made by former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s lawyer for granting to his client interim bail in the case of murder of a senior lawyer in Quetta, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A two-member bench of the SC, comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan Malik and Justice Ayesha Malik, heard the former prime minister’s petition against his nomination in the murder case of Abdul Razzaq Shar in Quetta.

The apex court also rejected Latif Khosa’s, Imran’s lawyer, plea to order police not to arrest his client since there were threats to his life.

The court was of the view that it could not give any such order without listening to respondents’ point of view.

Similarly, it also turned down his request for granting stay in the case.   

Seeking details of the case from the state counsel, the SC issued notices to the advocate general, prosecutor general Balochistan and other respondents in the case.

During the hearing, PTI chairman’s lawyer said that Shar was murdered on June 6. “And on that very day, special assistant to the prime minister, in his presser that was telecast live on TV channels, accused Imran of masterminding the murder,” he added.

Justice Ayesha remarked, “Leave this aside. Please tell us about contents of the FIR.”

Khosa went on to say that later an FIR was registered on the complaint of deceased’s son in which he had said that PTI chairman was responsible for the murder of his father since the latter had sought action against the former under Article 6 of the constitution.

Justice Ayesha asked Khosa who would determine that irrelevant sections were inserted in the case registered against his client.

Justice Ijaz remarked that the petitioner had every right to approach a relevant forum and inform it that irrelevant sections had been inserted in the case registered against him.

Imran’s lawyer said that non-bailable arrest warrants had been issued for the former prime minister despite the fact that the case challan was still to be submitted.

He also expressed surprise that a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) had been constituted in early stages of the case.

Justice Ayesha asked Khosa whether he had challenged the JIT in any court.

Justice Ijaz asked him as to which sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act allowed the anti-terrorism court (ATC) to form a JIT.

He further said that only the SHO had the power to register a case under the terrorism-related sections.

Later, the court adjourned the case hearing for an indefinite time period.

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori