As an accountability court transferred a new Toshakhana reference involving him and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to a special Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) court, PTI founder Imran Khan on Monday hinted at behind-the-scenes communication between his party and the military establishment.
Speaking to reporters after attending the accountability court proceedings, Khan revealed that his party’s Sept 8 rally, originally set for Aug 22, had been postponed at the establishment’s request.
Khan alleged that former senator Azam Swati visited Adiala jail at 7 a.m. to deliver the message from the establishment. The visit, which took place before normal visiting hours (which begin at 9 a.m.), was only possible due to special arrangements.
Khan explained that the establishment wanted the rally postponed mainly due to security concerns, given religious parties’ protests scheduled for the same day, and also due to preparations for the Pakistan-Bangladesh cricket match. He claimed the establishment assured him the necessary permissions for the Sept 8 rally would be granted.
He criticized the government for attempting to block protesters by placing containers on roads and ordering the rally to end by 7 p.m.
Khan also accused the establishment of previously offering him acquittal in all his cases if he remained silent for three years. He said he could have fled the country if he wanted such ‘relief.’
Interestingly, Khan also criticized amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance, arguing that they would “protect money laundering and theft from the national treasury,” despite seeking acquittal in the new Toshakhana reference under the same amended law.
He further warned of street protests if a proposed constitutional package, which would extend the tenure of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faiz Isa, was introduced. He accused the former Rawalpindi commissioner of leveling serious allegations against the CJP regarding rigging in the Feb 8 general elections.
Khan also alleged that efforts were underway to make the Supreme Court controversial and reiterated that the former army chief was involved in a London-based conspiracy against his party. He said the army chief had assured him the institution would remain neutral when contacted.
Accountability Court
Earlier, Judge Mohammad Ali Warraich ruled that the special FIA court would hear the couple’s bail petitions, despite Barrister Salman Safdar, Khan’s lawyer, requesting the accountability court to first hear the bail pleas before transferring the case.
The judge observed that since the Supreme Court upheld the amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance, the case falls under FIA’s jurisdiction, not NAB’s. The special FIA court is therefore competent to hear the complaint and bail petitions, Judge Warraich ruled, subsequently transferring the case record to the special court.
Barrister Safdar had argued that under the amended law, there was no case against the former prime minister and his wife, urging the accountability court to decide on the bail pleas. However, NAB prosecutors contended that the court could not issue an order on the bail pleas in light of the amendments, leading to the transfer of the case.
