Islamabad High Court on Friday issued a stay order on the indictment of former Pakistan pm and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case, as reported by ARY News. This decision came after the cricketer-turned-politician was indicted in the Toshakhana case on Wednesday, following his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case from Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises on Tuesday.
Islamabad High Court chief justice Aamer Farooq presided over the hearing. Khan's lawyer, Khawaja Haris, in his arguments before the court, said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did not forward a complaint against his client as per law. He added the complaint cannot be moved forward after the end of the deadline. The IHC CJ asked Khawaja Haris, "What did the session judge hearing the case say on reservations raised by you?"
The judge said we will see the matter during the recording of the statements in the case, and added that the case is not admissible for hearing. After hearing arguments from Imran Khan's lawyer, IHC CJ issued a stay order on the indictment and ordered the sessions court to halt the criminal proceedings in the Toshakhana case against Imran Khan, according to ARY News.
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday declared the former prime minister's dramatic arrest "unlawful" and "invalid" and ordered his immediate release after he was produced before a bench on its orders. On Thursday, a three-member apex court bench, comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah, ordered his immediate release. Khan is facing over 120 cases across the country, including for allegedly committing treason and blasphemy and inciting violence and terrorism.
The bench, while hearing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman's plea against his arrest, expressed anger at the way he was taken into custody by paramilitary Rangers and ordered the NAB to produce him before it. Soon after that, the supporters and party workers hailed the court's decision. PTI supporters were ecstatic over the release of their leader, Imran Khan and celebrated the top court's decision, reported Geo News.