The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s bail petitions until 10:30 am tomorrow after the special prosecutor fell ill. The case was heard by a three-member bench led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi. During the hearing, Imran Khan’s counsel, Salman Safdar, argued that the matter had already suffered repeated delays in the High Court, noting 16 hearings and the replacement of eight prosecutors. He pointed out that the prosecution’s repeated adjournment requests had unnecessarily prolonged the case. Safdar urged the court to at least hear the defense arguments, but the Chief Justice remarked that the prosecution’s stance must be heard first. “The prosecution must justify how the High Court’s ruling can be upheld,” he observed. The bench also turned down a plea seeking permission for Imran Khan’s sisters to address the court. “Only lawyers may present arguments; no family member is allowed to speak before the bench,” the Chief Justice ruled. Safdar further argued that Imran Khan had already been denied bail by the Lahore High Court in November last year, and that the case had remained pending for six months before any progress was made. He added that the defense had grown weary of repeated delays. “We assure you, no long adjournments will be granted,” the Chief Justice responded, reiterating that the matter would be taken up again tomorrow. This hearing marks another development in the ongoing legal challenges faced by Imran Khan, as the PTI founder continues to contest multiple cases in the courts. Earlier, the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan issued a notice to the Punjab government regarding appeals filed by incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan. According to reports, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi raised questions on whether final observations could be given in a bail case. The court directed the prosecution department to prepare on legal questions and adjourned the matter until 19 August. Imran Khan’s legal team and the opposing lawyers were instructed to assist the court on the identified legal issues. The Chief Justice made it clear that the Supreme Court would not issue any finding that could affect another case involving PTI founder.
PTI founder’s sisters barred from speaking in courtroom by Chief Justice
