IHC directs govt not to ‘harass’ Imran khan during Eid holidays

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the government on Thursday not to “harass” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan during the Eidul Fitr holidays.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq presided over the hearing on the former prime minister’s request that his arrest be halted during the Eid holidays and that details of the cases against him be obtained.

At the start of the hearing, Advocate Faisal Chaudhry appeared in court on Imran’s behalf, saying Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq came to Zaman Park and made a “good effort” to persuade Imran to engage in talks with the ruling coalition.

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“However, the next morning, the party’s president of Sindh [Ali Zaidi] was abducted,” Chaudhry continued.

In response, the IHC chief justice stated, “a bad taste was evidently born out of this incident.”

The lawyer for the PTI chief then told the court that the party’s leadership is “afraid that they [the government] will conduct another operation in Zaman Park during the five Eid holidays.”

“I can request the details of the cases, but how can I give a blank order?” Justice Farooq was questioned.

Following that, the IHC CJ directed the government not to harass the ex-PM during the Eid holidays and issued notices to the federation, the police, and the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) requesting details on Imran’s cases.

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The PTI chief’s request to postpone the hearing until after Eid was also granted, and the case was adjourned until April 27.

Earlier this week, Imran informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that he had “concrete information” of another “attack” at his Zaman Park residence during the Eid holidays, and asked that police officials not arrest him in order to avoid any bloodshed “planned” by them.

Imran had informed the court that the incumbent government did not intend to imprison him, but rather to “eradicate” him, as they had attempted in Wazirabad.

Following the PTI chief’s request, the LHC barred police from “harassing” the former prime minister during the Eidul Fitr holidays (April 21 to 25).