SC declines immediate meeting request with Imran Khan

The request was submitted by PTI senior leader Latif Khosa. During the hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi told Khosa that the court could not pass any order regarding a meeting without issuing prior notice to the government.

However, the court issued a notice to the government for Tuesday on Khosa’s petition seeking permission to meet the PTI founder.

The chief justice observed that the court would first need to address objections related to the maintainability of the petition. He also pointed out that similar matters were already pending before other courts.

“This case appears to have become ineffective,” the chief justice remarked, adding that the petition was linked to an order issued on August 24, 2023.

Reiterating the court’s stance, he said no direction regarding a meeting could be given without notice and that the court would determine whether the case had become infructuous or could still proceed.

In recent months, PTI has held several protests over restricted access to its incarcerated leader.

Imran Khan has been in jail since August 2023 and is facing multiple cases, including corruption and terrorism charges, following his removal from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.

Last week, the Supreme Court said a memorandum submitted by PTI leadership on February 6 had once again been forwarded to the relevant executive authorities for consideration under the law.

According to a statement issued by the court’s public relations officer, concerns regarding access to the jailed PTI leader and the provision of medical reports were conveyed to the concerned authorities.

The official added that a group of PTI-affiliated parliamentarians, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, gathered outside the Supreme Court last month to raise concerns over access to Imran Khan.

The statement said the Supreme Court registrar met PTI representatives and assured them their concerns would be brought to the attention of Chief Justice Yahya Afridi.

Later, PTI counsel Salman Akram Raja was granted an audience with the chief justice. As the matter did not directly relate to cases pending before the court, the concerns were referred to the relevant executive authorities for action under the law, after which the gathering dispersed peacefully.