Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday petitioned the Supreme Court against what he alleged was a "contemptuous and derogatory campaign" carried out at the "behest" of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif targeting the apex court, judiciary, and a joint investigation team (JIT) probing the Sharif family.
Khan, in his application, alleged that PM Nawaz and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar orchestrated and choreographed a systematic and planned derogatory campaign against SC judges and the JIT in order to "obstruct the administration of justice, and hamper, impede and malign the investigations."
The campaign is being executed by the cabinet ministers, spokespersons, nominees and members of PML-N, he claimed, adding that the premier had been misusing his position for the purposes of the campaign.
The development comes after the JIT made startling allegations accusing government institutions and departments of tampering with records, creating obstacles in the probe and threatening members of the team.
The JIT had submitted an application in the apex court requesting it to take action against officials from the concerned departments and against those who "unfairly publicly comment in the media in relation to the JIT and this honourable court".
The application urged the SC to pass "corrective orders so that the government machinery is not permitted to be misused".
It also sought issuance of orders to ensure the security of witnesses, members of the JIT, and their families, while also securing the jobs and tenures of the JIT members and the witnesses.
PML-N's Abbasi agrees with sending foreign funding case to ECP
In a separate hearing of the petition filed by PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi seeking Imran Khan’s disqualification, Abbasi's counsel informed the Supreme Court that his client agrees with the idea of referring the case to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to investigate the allegations about PTI receiving funds from prohibited sources and keep the issue pending till the commission reports its findings.
See: PML-N lawyer casts doubts about sources of $3.5m PTI funds
Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, who was heading a three-judge bench, said that the decision of what needs to be sent to the ECP shall be decided by the court itself.
Meanwhile, counsel Muhammad Akram Sheikh said his client Abbasi has given his assent over sending the prohibited funding case to ECP for investigation. He was responding to a suggestion by the SC.
Sheikh said that the details of Jemima Khan’s transactions and Niazi Services Limited accounts have not been submitted to the court. “It appears that the PTI is not looking for the record, but preparing it,” Sheikh quipped.
At this, Justice Nisar said the required record is quite old which makes the delay understandable. Who funded the party [PTI] was the more important question, he added.
Some of the record shared with the court requires explanation and answers, he said.
Justice Nisar remarked that the bench was hearing the case with complete depth and all requisites of justice will be met in its decision.
The court gave Imran Khan one week to respond to Abbasi's application regarding his assets and two weeks in the foreign funding case.
Meanwhile, PTI’s counsel Anwar Mansoor complained of a media trial against his client.