Imran Criticizes “Unilateral” Prison Procedures

January 30, 2024 / By Zunair Tahir / Pakistan News

The judge closed the defense lawyers’ opportunity to question witnesses in the Toshakhana reference on Monday, while state-appointed counsel wrapped up the cross-examination of all 25 prosecution witnesses in the cipher case. Former prime minister Imran Khan expressed his disapproval of what he considered to be “unilateral” proceedings at Adiala Jail.

The state counsel was assigned on Saturday by Special Court (Official Secrets Act) judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain since the attorneys for PTI founding chairman and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi were unable to cross-examine witnesses in the cipher case.

Ten witnesses had previously been cross-examined by state counsel, compared to four by defense attorneys.

The attorneys for Mr. Khan and Mr. Qureshi engaged in spirited debates on Monday to begin the cipher case hearings, expressing their lack of trust in Judge Zulqarnain. They submitted an application requesting the judge to step down from his position about his choice to assign the state attorney to cross-examine the two PTI leaders’ witnesses.

After hearing the defense attorney’s arguments, the court denied the petition. The court asked Barrister Salman Safdar and Sikandar Zulqarnain, the attorneys for Mr. Khan, if they were prepared to cross-examine the witnesses as he was dictating the order. The attorneys requested that the judge rule on the application first.

In response to the motion being denied by Judge Zulqarnain, the state attorney was ordered to cross-examine the witnesses on behalf of Mr. Khan and Mr. Qureshi. After accountability judge Muhammad Bashir called the hearings in the Toshakhana reference, he departed the courtroom.

Judge Zulqarnain extended the hearings till 11 p.m., at which point the state attorney wrapped up the cross-examination of 11 witnesses, including the former prime minister’s main secretary Azam Khan, the former foreign secretary Sohail Mehmood, and the former ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed.

Judge Bashir of Accountability requested that the defense attorney cross-examine the witnesses during the Toshakhana reference hearing. But Zaheer Abbas Chaudhry, an attorney, showed up in court and presented Wakalatnama from Imran Khan. He told the judge that he needed some time to be ready for the case since he had recently gotten engaged.

However, the prosecution countered that Mr. Chaudhry was the ninth defense attorney to file the Wakalatnama, calling this evidence of deliberate delay.

After the defense team refused to cooperate, Judge Bashir instructed them to cross-examine the witnesses. He then requested Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to record their testimonies under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

In accordance with this clause, the accused may be questioned by the judge “on the case after the prosecution’s witnesses have been examined and before he is called on for his defense.”

A prison official notified Mr. Khan and Mr. Qureshi that they needed to appear before Judge Zulqarnain, who reopened the hearings in the cipher case at a different location within the jail premises, while the proceedings in the Toshakhana reference were ongoing.

A prison official notified Mr. Khan and Mr. Qureshi that they needed to appear before Judge Zulqarnain, who reopened the hearings in the cipher case at a different location within the jail premises, while the proceedings in the Toshakhana reference were ongoing.

Although Mr. Khan was hesitant to come before the judge, Mr. Qureshi did so in order to participate in the proceedings.

Only three court reporters were permitted by the jail administration to cover the more than 13-hour-long cipher case sessions.

Speaking with media representatives, Imran Khan said that the trial’s rapid pace implied that the “match is already fixed.” He declared that US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu is being saved at any costs.

He declared that the current events had tarnished the reputation of the general elections and that he was eager to have talks with the establishment. He said that the arrests of PTI members were the direct result of Pakistan’s chief judge. He said that he would request that individuals who have not shown up for electioneering be the subject of an investigation.

According to the PTI founder, Nawaz Sharif, the supreme leader of the PML-N, came back to Pakistan as part of an agreement with the establishment and still uses a “Vigo vehicle” to get to the prime minister’s office. If granted permission, he threatened to organize the largest demonstration ever.

Retired General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the former head of the army, was allegedly “seeking a deal for the opposition leaders,” according to Mr. Khan, who also threatened to petition the court to call Donald Lu, the military attaché, and Gen. Bajwa as witnesses.

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