CM Gandapur
ISLAMABAD: In a significant legal move, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court of Pakistan, filing a petition to seek permission for holding weekly meetings with incarcerated former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, Imran Khan, currently imprisoned at Adiala Jail.
The petition emphasizes the importance of these meetings for the preparation and consultation of the upcoming provincial budget for the fiscal year 2025–26.
According to the contents of the petition, CM Gandapur argued that regular consultations with the PTI founder are essential for ensuring effective governance and transparent fiscal planning in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He stated that the input of Imran Khan, as the party’s founding leader and key policymaker, is crucial for shaping the province’s financial strategies and developmental agenda.
In addition to seeking permission for weekly meetings, the petition urged the apex court to enforce prior judicial orders that uphold the right to meet with the former prime minister. Gandapur also demanded the removal of administrative restrictions imposed by authorities that have been preventing such interactions.
The chief minister further contended that the denial of access to Imran Khan is a direct violation of fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan, specifically citing Articles 9 (right to life and liberty), 10A (right to fair trial), and 19 (freedom of expression). He maintained that these constitutional guarantees must be upheld to ensure political accountability and participatory governance.
Earlier in the day, CM Gandapur appeared before Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, seeking immediate relief in the matter.
However, Justice Mansoor declined to take up the petition on procedural grounds, advising the chief minister to submit his request to the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Registrar of the Supreme Court instead.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s legal troubles intensified as the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday rejected post-arrest bail applications in eight separate cases linked to the May 9 riots. The division bench, led by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, announced the verdict, upholding earlier decisions by an anti-terrorism court that had dismissed Khan’s bail requests.
The cases in question involve serious allegations, including attacks on Lahore’s Jinnah House, the Askari Tower, and the arson of Shadman Police Station. Prosecutors told the court that Imran Khan had instigated PTI leaders and workers to target military installations in the wake of his arrest in May 2023.
The LHC’s decision deals a significant blow to Khan’s legal battle and continues to complicate his access to political communication and legal relief from prison.
The dual developments—CM Gandapur’s petition for access and the LHC’s bail rejection—highlight the ongoing legal and political challenges facing PTI’s leadership as it seeks to navigate a turbulent phase in its history.
