The cycle of arrests: Why Imran Khan is in trouble again?

Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was formally arrested by Rawalpindi police on Wednesday. The arrest is linked to the PTI’s protest on September 28, 2024, and took place at Adiala Jail, where Khan is already in custody.

The police action followed the registration of charges at the New Town police station. Khan is facing accusations under Sections 7 ATA and 21-I ATA, alongside multiple provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code, including Sections 353, 186, 285, 286, 148, 149, 427, 109, and 188. These charges are related to his alleged role in the violent protest organized by PTI.

Currently detained in a separate case, Khan is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow for a hearing regarding his physical remand. During this session, the court will decide if he should remain in custody to facilitate further investigation.

Earlier in the day, a notable development occurred when the Islamabad High Court granted bail to Khan in the Toshakhana case. Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb presided over the proceedings. Khan’s defence lawyer, Salman Safdar, explained that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had recorded a statement on the matter, which was later transferred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The FIA prosecutor highlighted that statements under Section 164 are recorded before a magistrate. Justice Aurangzeb pointed out that recent legal amendments shifted the case jurisdiction from NAB to FIA. He also questioned the absence of actions against Customs officers responsible for price miscalculations. The FIA prosecutor responded that their negligence did not amount to criminal misconduct, and NAB had not recommended disciplinary measures.

In a lighter moment, Justice Aurangzeb humorously remarked, “Let’s just say they are very good people,” eliciting laughter in the courtroom. The court eventually granted Khan bail, conditional upon the submission of Rs1 million bonds and his cooperation with the trial court. It was noted that non-compliance during the trial could result in the bail being revoked.