ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a request seeking an immediate meeting with incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, observing that it could not pass such an order without first issuing notice to the government.
PTI senior leader Latif Khosa requested the hearing. However, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi told Khosa that the court must hear the government before issuing any directive related to access or meetings.
The court, therefore, issued a notice to the government for Tuesday to respond to Khosa’s request.
The chief justice also noted that the court must first address objections regarding the maintainability of the petition. He reminded the petitioner that other courts were already hearing related matters.
“We are of the view that this case has become ineffective,” the chief justice observed, adding that the matter before the bench originated from an order issued on August 24, 2023.
He reiterated that the court could not order a meeting without issuing notice and said the bench would determine whether the petition had become infructuous or could still proceed.
PTI Protests Continue Over Access Issue
In recent months, PTI has staged multiple protests, demanding access to the jailed leader. Khan has remained in custody since August 2023 and faces several cases ranging from corruption to terrorism. Authorities filed the cases after his ouster through a no-confidence motion in April 2022.
Last week, the Supreme Court said a memorandum submitted by PTI leadership on February 6 had again been forwarded to the “relevant executive authorities” for consideration under the law.
A Supreme Court public relations officer said the concerns regarding access to Khan and the provision of medical reports were conveyed to executive authorities. The official added that a group of PTI parliamentarians, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, had gathered outside the court last month.
The registrar engaged with PTI representatives and assured them the concerns would reach the chief justice. Later, PTI counsel Salman Akram Raja met the chief justice, after which authorities referred the issue to executive offices.
