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Sunday April 28, 2024

IHC fixes date to hear Imran Khan's plea on fears of arrest

In his plea, PTI chief says federal govt wants to arrest him during Eid holidays, seeking IHC intervention

By Awais Yousafzai
April 19, 2023
Former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan addresses long march participants via video link. — Instagram/@imrankhan.pti
Former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan addresses long march participants via video link. — Instagram/@imrankhan.pti

After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan approached the Islamabad High Court over fears of being arrested during the Eid ul Fitr holidays, the IHC's registrar office fixed April 20 as the date to hear his petition on Wednesday.

Khan's petition, submitted through his counsel Faisal Chaudhry earlier today, will be heard by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq tomorrow (Thursday).

In his petition, the PTI chief has shared fears that he could be arrested during his arrival in Islamabad asking the court to subject his arrest in any case to judicial permission.

The plea has also requested the court to order details of all cases registered against the PTI chief in police stations across Islamabad.

The court should also order the provision of information regarding a case filed in secret, the petition read.

“It has been learned that the federal government wants to arrest during the Eid holidays. It is planning an attack on the Zaman Park residence in Lahore,” Khan stated in his plea, adding that the arrest during the holidays should be subject to judicial permission.

Khan, in his petition, has added the federation as a party through the home secretary, inspector-general of police and director general Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

“Since the regime change, the parties have been harassing Imran Khan on behest of the Pakistan Democratic Movement [PDM],” the plea mentioned.

It added that the former prime minister, who was voted out of office after a no-confidence motion a year ago, has been raising his voice against corruption which is why he is being harassed.

“Cases have been filed against Imran Khan across the country,” the petition read.

A day earlier, the Lahore High Court (LHC) fixed May 2 as the date to hear Khan's plea seeking the details of the cases registered against him and the possibility of a police operation by the government at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore during Eid holidays.

The provincial top court refrained authorities from harassing the former premier and ordered that Khan should be treated according to the law as per the assurance given by the Punjab government's lawyer.

“Imran Khan should not be illegally harassed until the next hearing,” the court mentioned in its verdict.