The Pakistan Supreme Court on Thursday termed the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan by NAB in a money laundering case unlawful and ordered his immediate release.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial issued the directives hearing Khan's plea against his arrest by NAB in Al-Qadir Trust case, Dawn reported. The Court earlier today asked NAB to present Khan in Court.
The publication reported that Judge Bandial observed that Imran Khan was present in the Islamabad High Court's biometric courtroom on May 9. “When a person comes to the court of law, it means that he surrenders before the court,” Dawn quoted the Judge.
Justice Bandial remarked that Imran’s arrest was “illegal” and directed the PTI chief to approach the IHC. The Supreme Court reiterated that Imran Khan had to appear before IHC tomorrow.
The bench, which heard Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman's plea against his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case, expressed anger at the way Khan was taken into custody from the premises of the Islamabad High Court.
Earlier in the day, Bandial asked how an individual could be arrested from the court premises. Justice Minallah observed that Khan had indeed entered the court premises. "How can anyone be denied the right to justice?" he asked.
The court also observed that no one could be arrested from the court without the permission of the court's registrar. It observed that the arrest was tantamount to denying access to justice without fear and intimation, which was the right of every citizen.
It also said that by entering the premises of a court means surrendering to the court and how a person could be arrested after surrender. If an individual surrendered to the court, then what does arresting them mean? the chief justice said.
Khan's counsel Hamid Khan informed the court that his client had approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking a pre-arrest bail but was arrested by paramilitary Rangers.
"Rangers misbehaved with Imran Khan and arrested him," the lawyer said.
The court also took note of about 90 to 100 Rangers personnel entering the court to arrest Khan. What dignity remains of the court if 90 people entered its premises? How can any individual be arrested from court premises? the chief Justice asked.
Chief Justice Bandial also at point observed that the National Accountability Bureau had committed contempt of court. They should have taken permission from the court's registrar before the arrest. Court staffers were also subjected to abuse, he said.
Khan was arrested on Tuesday from the Islamabad High Court and an accountability court on Wednesday handed him over to the National Accountability Bureau for eight days in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The former premier on Wednesday approached the apex court to set aside the warrants of NAB of May 1 for his arrest and to challenge the Islamabad High Court's decision to declare the arrest unlawful.
Earlier, the IHC expressing anger at the way Khan was nabbed upheld his arrest hours after he was whisked away.
(With PTI inputs.)