Jailed Imran Khan Invokes Arvind Kejriwal’s Case Before Pakistan Supreme Court, Alleges Oppression

Jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan cited the example of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal getting bail before India’s general elections as he complained about mistreatment in jail before the Pakistan Supreme Court, news agency PTI reported. Khan’s remarks came during his appearance on Thursday before a five-member Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, in a case concerning amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO). 

The bench included Justices Aminuddin Khan, Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Athar Minallah, and Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, according to the report. Justice Minallah expressed regret that Khan, as the leader of a large party with millions of followers, was imprisoned. 

Khan, 71, claimed he faced “victimisation” since his removal from power in April 2022. He pointed out that Kejriwal was granted bail by the Indian Supreme Court ahead of elections, allowing him to campaign, whereas Khan was facing oppression in Pakistan, which he described as being under undeclared “martial law”. Khan noted he was convicted within five days to keep him from participating in the February 8 general elections. 

Khan also expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court’s decision rejecting a plea from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s government for live streaming the case. “You wrote [in the judgment] that I did political point scoring during the last hearing. I did not get it what political scoring did I resort to,” Khan asked Chief Justice Isa, as reported by PTI. 

Chief Justice Isa responded that a judge does not owe an explanation over a verdict, stating Khan could file a review petition. He also instructed Khan to address only the pending matter before the court. 

‘A Third Umpire’ Makes Decision: Imran Khan 

As per the report, Imran Khan lamented political victimisation and suggested the Supreme Court should appoint a chairman for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the anti-corruption watchdog. He alleged that when the Opposition and government fail to agree on the NAB chairman, a “third umpire” makes the decision, indicating the NAB was working under “external influence”. 

“When the Opposition and government fail to evolve consensus on the name of NAB chairman appointment then a ‘third umpire’ makes the decision,” he said.

Justice Minallah told Khan there was no reason to invalidate the NAB amendments. Khan, currently facing NAB inquiries, called for improvements in the anti-corruption body.