ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday suspended the physical remand orders of the arrested leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court Aamer Farooq, and Justice Saman Rifat Imtiaz heard the case regarding the detained PTI leaders.
On the petition of Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, the court suspended the physical remand orders of PTI Members of Assembly Zain Qureshi, Sher Afzal Marwat, and Sheikh Waqas Akram.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq inquired, “If we issue an order, will the accused be sent to judicial custody? This physical remand order cannot remain, but what will happen if it does?”
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the court should not grant a prolonged physical remand, noting that the trial court did not provide any reasons for the remand in its order.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq asked the prosecutor, “How will you defend this decision of the physical remand?” The prosecutor responded by reading out the FIRs against the accused.
The Islamabad High Court adjourned the hearing until tomorrow and Chief Justice remarked, “Tomorrow is Friday, and usually, a two-member bench does not convene on Fridays, but a special two-member bench will hear the case at 10 a.m.”
The Prosecutor General argued that suspending the physical remand decision would send a negative message, to which the court asked, “What negative message? Please clarify.”
On the night of September 9, PTI leaders were taken into custody from the Parliament House.
In response, the Speaker of the National Assembly took action by issuing production orders for the detained leaders and suspended four security personnel including the Sergeant-at-Arms of the National Assembly.
