Imran To Stay At Guesthouse, Meet People After SC Orders 'Release'

Imran To Stay At Guesthouse, Meet People After SC Orders 'Release'
The Supreme Court directed PTI chairman's stay at the Police Lines Guest House, as it declared his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case illegal.

The court ordered release of the former premier, a day after he was taken into custody from the premises of Islamabad High Court.

In its order, the apex court ruled that the accused will approach the IHC again, and accept its verdict. He was told to stay at the Police Lines guesthouse until the hearing and meet 'up to 10 individuals'.

When asked to be allowed to return to his Bani Gala restaurant, SC told Imran that he could not do so, in view of his security.

Imran had challenged his arrest in SC hours after the IHC declared it lawful, after a prompt notice of the development.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial observed that regardless of the legality of warrants in the Al-Qadir case, the arrest itself had not been carried out lawfully and ordered Imran's release.

When he asked the PTI chief to condemn the violence following his arrest, Imran claimed that he and his party had never engaged in violent activities and always sought peaceful means for their objectives.

On Wednesday, Imran was indicted in the Toshakhana reference, and handed over to the NAB in the Al-Qadir Trust case that led to his arrest.

The former premier was indicted by a sessions court of the federal capital, with both hearings held at the Islamabad Police Lines, which was accorded the status of a court owing to the security situation.

Separately, an accountability court granted NAB an eight-day remand of the accused in the Al-Qadir case, prior to Imran's release.

He was taken into custody on Tuesday, triggering violent riots in multiple cities, which have continued till the publishing of this report.

At least 50 personnel of paramilitary Rangers took him into custody as he appeared at IHC for a bail plea.

Imran and former First Lady Bushra Bibi are accused of obtaining a land worth billions of rupees for their Trust from property tycoon Malik Riaz in order to build an educational institute.