Lawyers believe that cases involving civil liberties not being prioritised during CJP Yahya Afridi’s tenure
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court will fix contempt matter related to the non-implementation of a judicial order permitting meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan in line with the court’s new case-fixation policy.
A senior Supreme Court official told The Express Tribune that the contempt petition over the denial of meetings with Khan, despite an Islamabad High Court order allowing them, would be listed under the court’s new policy.
Earlier, on May 20, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, a senior advocate, called on Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and urged the court to expedite the listing of cases involving Imran Khan.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Raja said the chief justice had assured him that cases related to Khan would be scheduled for hearing soon after Eid.
In November last year, Raja filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Islamabad High Court’s dismissal of his contempt petition over the non-implementation of its March 24 order directing jail authorities to allow meetings between Khan and his family members and lawyers.
It is learnt that the contempt matter is listed at number 60 on the Supreme Court’s cause list, with the chief justice strictly following the court’s fixation policy, under which contempt cases are taken up in turn.
However, senior lawyers have raised concerns, noting that the matter is of considerable significance as it pertains to the former prime minister, whose meetings with family members and lawyers have been almost completely restricted since December.
The government on the other hand is claiming that Imran Khan is frequently holding meetings with his wife Bushra Bibi in Adiala Jail.
Lawyers are of the view that cases involving civil liberties are not being prioritised during the tenure of Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi.
Since the passage of the 26th Amendment, the PTI has struggled securing relief in the superior courts, with key petitions involving its jailed founder and senior leadership remaining in limbo, deepening its legal and political uncertainty.
The party, whose founder and chief Imran Khan remains incarcerated, continues to approach the judiciary for hearings of his cases, but progress has been slow, with petitions stuck in limbo across multiple forums.
Despite filing several petitions, the party could not get any relief from the Islamabad High Court.
Interestingly, despite pendency of dozens of important constitution petitions, the PTI is reluctant to approach the FCC.
After the meeting between Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and Salman Akram Raja, PTI had renewed hopes in the Supreme Court, but those expectations have since faded.
Political analysts suggest that meetings with Imran Khan may only be restored if he avoids criticising the security establishment during interactions with family members in custody.
