ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (TEH) – A temporary relief for Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan comes from the country’s Supreme Court, which has suspended his arrest warrant until August 9 in connection with a murder case involving a senior lawyer, reports Indian WION.
Justice Afridi, heading a three-judge bench, presided over the hearing of a petition submitted by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party chief, Khan, in a bid to nullify the case. Abdul Razzaq Shar, a prominent lawyer, was assassinated by unidentified assailants in Quetta, Balochistan’s capital, on June 6, as he was en route to a significant hearing at the Balochistan High Court.
Subsequent to Shar’s murder, Khan was implicated in the First Information Report (FIR) following a complaint lodged by the lawyer’s son. Shar had previously filed a petition against Khan at the Balochistan High Court, calling for action under Article 6, which pertains to sedition.
Following the tragic incident, the federal government and Khan’s party engaged in a blame game, each alleging the other’s involvement in the murder. Reports suggest that Attaullah Tarar, an aide to current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, alleged that Shar’s murder was executed at Khan’s behest to evade the impending treason case. In a counter-claim, Rauf Hasan, a spokesperson for Khan’s party, implicated Prime Minister and Home Minister Rana Sanaullah in the assassination.
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) initially issued an arrest warrant for Khan in the case, a decision later upheld by the Balochistan High Court. In response, Khan (70) appealed to the Supreme Court against his implication in the murder case. On July 20, during the most recent hearing, the Supreme Court instructed Khan to present himself before the bench prior to the dismissal of the FIR and the arrest warrant.
During Monday’s hearing, Khan complied, appearing in the Supreme Court accompanied by his legal team. Despite the Advocate General for Balochistan’s appeal for the court to instruct the petitioner to appear before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), the court chose not to issue such an order at that time. Instead, the bench deferred Khan’s arrest and postponed the proceedings until August 9.
