Pakistan, April 23 — The Supreme Court rejected the Punjab government’s plea for Imran Khan’s physical custody, criticizing the postponement of 1.5 years. The court argued that the timing was inappropriate and saw no valid reason to approve the remand at this stage. Additionally, it stated that any subsequent testing requests should be addressed by the trial court.
At the hearing, Punjab’s prosecutor mentioned that they required the detention order to conduct tests including lie detector and voice analysis. However, the judges noted that the official plea was solely for the remand and did not include these additional examinations. The judges recommended that the government should obtain authorization from the trial court before proceeding with any of those specific procedures.
Justice Hashim Kakar asked why the government remembered the remand so late after the arrest. He also mentioned a past case where a suspect stayed in jail for seven years and was later found innocent. Justice Salahuddin Panhwar added that such tests are not even done in regular murder cases.
Ultimately, the court permitted Punjab to seek permission from the trial court if they wish to conduct further tests. Additionally, it stated that Imran Khan’s legal team would have the opportunity to present their objections throughout this procedure. The Supreme Court then concluded the case, emphasizing that justice must remain impartial.
