ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a request seeking an immediate meeting with incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, observing that no such order could be passed without issuing prior notice to the government.
The request was made by PTI senior leader Latif Khosa during a hearing before Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi.
Addressing Khosa, the chief justice remarked that the court could not pass any order regarding a meeting with the jailed leader without first issuing notice to the government.
However, the court issued notice to the government for Tuesday on Khosa’s request.
The chief justice further observed that, at this stage, the court would first have to address objections regarding the maintainability of the petition, noting that related matters were already pending before other courts.
“We are of the view that this case has become ineffective,” the chief justice said, adding that the case before the court stemmed from an order issued on August 24, 2023.
Reiterating the court’s position, he said no order could be passed without issuing notice, and the court would have to determine whether the case had become infructuous or could still be pursued.
In recent months, the former ruling party has staged multiple protests over the lack of access to the jailed leader.
Imran Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023, faces several cases ranging from corruption to terrorism, following his ouster from power through the opposition’s no-confidence motion in April 2022.
Last week, the Supreme Court said that a memorandum submitted by PTI leadership on February 6 had once again been conveyed to the relevant executive authorities for appropriate consideration under the law.
In a statement, a public relations officer of the top court said concerns relating to access to the imprisoned PTI leader and the provision of medical reports were conveyed to the relevant authorities.
The official added that a group of PTI-affiliated parliamentarians, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, had gathered outside the court last month to register their concerns.
The SC registrar met PTI representatives and assured them the matter would be brought to the chief justice’s notice.
Later, PTI counsel Salman Akram Raja was granted an audience with the chief justice, the statement said.
As the concerns did not directly relate to proceedings pending before the Supreme Court, they were referred to the relevant executive authorities for consideration in accordance with law, after which the gathering dispersed peacefully.