ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday barred banking court from issuing verdict on Imran Khan’s request for joining court proceedings through video link due to health conditions. Khan had challenged the banking court’s decision to reject his request.
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A two judges bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Tariq Mhemood Jehangiri heard the case.
After hearing the plea put forward by Barrister Salman Safdar, the court accepted the plea on medical grounds, ordered Imran Khan to appear on next date and restrained Banking Court from issuing verdict till the next hearing. The court issued notices to parties after which the hearing was adjourned until Febr4uary 23. The court also ordered to submit fresh medical report of the PTI Chairman.
Earlier in the day, the Islamabad banking court Judge Rakhshanda Shaheen heard the case of prohibited funding against Imran Khan and others after which she rejected Imran Khan’s plea for exemption from appearance and ordered him to appear before the court by 3:30pm today.
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in Islamabad on Wednesday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s plea for exemption from appearance and ordered him to appear before the court by 3:30pm today. Banking court judge Rakhshanda Shaheen heard the case of prohibited funding against Imran Khan and others.
Barrister Safdar submitted a request for Imran’s leave of absence on medical grounds to the court.
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After the judge observed that Imran’s legal team has challenged her previous order in the high court, Imran’s lawyer said that if she would listen to their appeal “and give relief on the matter” then the high court case would not be pursued.
“You have challenged my order, so by all means pursue it,” she remarked.
Barrister Safdar urged the court to keep “an open mind”.
“Imran Khan is over 70 years old,” the lawyer argued adding that he was still recovering from a bullet wound on his leg, and urged the court to grant him another three weeks’ time.
The lawyer also said that should the court reject the request, it would have to provide in writing that “our medical report is incorrect, and that Imran Khan was not shot”.
Special prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi opposed Imran’s request for exemption from appearance.
Once the special prosecutor’s arguments were completed, the judge dismissed Imran’s request for leave and ordered him to appear before the court at 3:30 pm. However, before the deadline could arrive, the Islamabad High Court barred banking court from issuing verdict on Imran Khan’s bail application till February 23.
