Plan to keep Imran in jail?

ISLAMABAD: Jailed PTI Chairman Imran Khan will now be in NAB’s custody anytime, indicating his prolonged stay behind the bars even if he gets bail in cipher case from the Supreme Court.

Official sources said despite NAB getting Imran Khan’s remand on Monday, the PTI chairman will remain in Adiala Jail, where he is already in judicial custody in cipher case. NAB is not keen to transfer him to its own lockup.

Following NAB’s request, an accountability court in Islamabad on Monday issued arrest warrant for the former premier in two cases pertaining to the Toshakhana and £190m settlement with UK’s National Crime Agency.

So now even if he gets bail in the cipher case, Imran Khan will remain behind the bars because of NAB’s move.

The NAB had submitted a request before the Accountability Court for compliance with the arrest warrant. The court accepted the request and directed the superintendent of Adiala Jail, to ensure the same under the law.

The NAB maintained that arrest of the PTI chief was needed to complete investigation in the cases. Imran Khan’s remand to NAB means no early bail. According to a legal expert, once NAB gets Imran Khan’s remand it would mean at least a few months of jail.

During his custody in Adiala Jail, Imran Khan is also facing cipher case trial within the premises of the same prison. It is expected by the prosecution that ongoing trial of the cipher case against Imran Khan will be concluded within six to eight weeks.

It is said that six prosecution witnesses will be presented before the court in Adiala Jail on Tuesday (today). The total number of prosecution witnesses is 27. The cipher case is believed to have some serious consequences for Imran Khan.

On May 9, Imran was arrested in connection with the £190m NCA case from the premises of the Islamabad High Court by dozens of Rangers personnel, triggering countrywide protests. However, on May 11, the SC declared his arrest as “illegal” and had ordered his release.

On May 12, the IHC had stopped the authorities from arresting the PTI chairman in any case, including undisclosed ones, filed against him anywhere in the country till May 15.

Later, Imran Khan after his conviction in Toshakhana case by Islamabad sessions court was arrested and since then he has been in jail. His sentence in the Toshakhana case was suspended by the IHC but before his release he was arrested in the cipher case. He was remanded in judicial custody in Adiala Jail in the cipher case.