A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Rawalpindi police visited the Adiala Jail on Thursday to record the statement of former Prime Minister and PTI Chairman, Imran Khan, concerning incidents that occurred on May 9, 2023.
Imran Khan, currently undergoing judicial remand for the cipher case, had previously declined to state without his lawyer’s presence.
Khan is facing multiple charges stemming from violent events that unfolded nationwide after his arrest. The incidents in Rawalpindi include an assault on the General Headquarters’ entrance and disturbances within the precincts of a crucial institution, among others. Of the several cases linked to the May 9 unrest in Rawalpindi, thirteen are being examined individually.
Police sources reveal that Imran Khan refuted the claims outlined in the initial First Information Reports (FIRs).
High Court Reviews Special Court Judge Appointment
In a separate development, the Islamabad High Court served notices to multiple entities, including the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the law ministry, after the admittance of Imran’s intra-court appeal. The appeal challenges both the appointment of the special court judge and the decision to hold the cipher case trial within jail confines.
The bench, Justices Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb and Saman Rifat Imtiaz reviewed the PTI chairman’s appeal against the single-judge bench’s verdict from the previous month. As the proceedings unfolded, emphasis was laid on transparent justice delivery in open court settings.
The Additional Attorney General (AAG) provided insights into the appointment process, whereas PTI’s lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, pointed out concerns about the restricted trial setting. The subsequent hearing is slated for November 6.
