Journalist Matiullah Jan on Monday questioned a statement of the Supreme Court, clarifying its stance on the Mercedes car provided to PTI chairman Imran Khan for a recent court hearing.
In a statement earlier today, the top court clarified that it does not provide conveyance for appearance of any person before the court.
The court added that "in the instant case, the Islamabad Police had arranged the vehicle for transporting Mr. Imran Khan in compliance of the Court's direction."
SC was responding to a tweet by PML-N's Ahsan Iqbal regarding the provision of the car to transport the PTI chief, on May 11.
The court also said it had directed for the said person to be produced at a certain time, but, citing police, the communiqué maintained that the appearance was delayed for arranging a safe transportation.
According to Jan, the apex court's stance on providing the car to Imran itself requires some explanation.
He said that the statement – which came to the fore after a passage of 12 days – didn't address the key concern.
"The accusation was not about the Supreme Court arranging a Mercedes for Imran Khan," the journalist said in a twitter post.
He added, "The accusation was that Islamabad police had arranged a Mercedes for Imran Khan on the directive from the Supreme Court's registrar [in this regard]."
Earlier this month, the court declared the arrest of PTI chairman Imran Khan in Al-Qadir Trust case illegal, and ordered his immediate release.
While hearing the plea filed by PTI challenging the detention, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial remarked that Imran's arrest from the premises of Islamabad High Court was a "mighty disgrace" to the legal system of the country.
The CJ had observed that storming the court with the intention to arrest someone is against the honour of the court. No one would feel safe inside a court anymore, he added.
In a statement earlier today, the top court clarified that it does not provide conveyance for appearance of any person before the court.
The court added that "in the instant case, the Islamabad Police had arranged the vehicle for transporting Mr. Imran Khan in compliance of the Court's direction."
SC was responding to a tweet by PML-N's Ahsan Iqbal regarding the provision of the car to transport the PTI chief, on May 11.
The court also said it had directed for the said person to be produced at a certain time, but, citing police, the communiqué maintained that the appearance was delayed for arranging a safe transportation.
According to Jan, the apex court's stance on providing the car to Imran itself requires some explanation.
He said that the statement – which came to the fore after a passage of 12 days – didn't address the key concern.
"The accusation was not about the Supreme Court arranging a Mercedes for Imran Khan," the journalist said in a twitter post.
He added, "The accusation was that Islamabad police had arranged a Mercedes for Imran Khan on the directive from the Supreme Court's registrar [in this regard]."
Earlier this month, the court declared the arrest of PTI chairman Imran Khan in Al-Qadir Trust case illegal, and ordered his immediate release.
While hearing the plea filed by PTI challenging the detention, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial remarked that Imran's arrest from the premises of Islamabad High Court was a "mighty disgrace" to the legal system of the country.
The CJ had observed that storming the court with the intention to arrest someone is against the honour of the court. No one would feel safe inside a court anymore, he added.