{"id":38740,"date":"2023-12-23T02:35:04","date_gmt":"2023-12-23T02:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/supreme-courts-reprieve-may-not-bail-imran-out-of-jail-for-now\/"},"modified":"2023-12-23T02:35:04","modified_gmt":"2023-12-23T02:35:04","slug":"supreme-courts-reprieve-may-not-bail-imran-out-of-jail-for-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/supreme-courts-reprieve-may-not-bail-imran-out-of-jail-for-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court\u2019s reprieve may not bail Imran out of jail \u2014 for now"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2022 Ex-PM also serving sentence for two corruption cases, facing 150 other charges
\u2022 Qureshi appears poised to return to political arena after securing bail<\/p>\n

ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan\u2019s journey to freedom remains arduous despite bail granted by the Supreme Court<\/a> in the cipher case on Friday because of his ongoing incarceration in two other corruption references and about 150 other cases registered at police stations across the country.<\/p>\n

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, on the other hand, appears poised for a swift return to the political arena after securing bail.<\/p>\n

Besides, the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling supersedes the Islamabad High Court\u2019s (IHC) previous order directing the special court to conclude the cipher case trial<\/a> within four weeks. This could potentially decelerate the trial\u2019s progress.<\/p>\n

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq had earlier dismissed Mr Khan\u2019s petitions for acquittal and bail in the cipher case on Oct 27. Mr Shah Mehmood QureshiKhan and Mr Qureshi\u2019s counsel subsequen\u00adtly challenged this dismissal.<\/p>\n

Arrested<\/a> since Aug 20 in the cipher case, Mr Qureshi was also implicated in nine FIRs for alleged involvement in violent protests.<\/p>\n

In two FIRs registered with Police Station Khanna, the anti-terrorism court (ATC) of Islamabad in September dismissed his bail plea for non-prosecution as he was confined at Adiala Jail and could not appear before the judge, Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain.<\/p>\n

According to Ali Bukhari, Mr Qureshi\u2019s counsel, the order dismissing his client\u2019s bail petition was challenged before the IHC and the matter was referred to the ATC again.<\/p>\n

The ATC judge then granted bail to Mr Qureshi in both FIRs, he said, adding that there was nothing against the former minister to justify his confinement.<\/p>\n

He said the legal team has applied for a certified copy of the Supreme Court\u2019s judgment to deposit surety bonds for Mr Qureshi.<\/p>\n

Political analysts speculate that Mr Qureshi\u2019s release might lead to a shift in PTI\u2019s leadership dynamics, with the outgoing chairman, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, potentially becoming irrelevant.<\/p>\n

Mr Qureshi, previously a strong candidate for PTI\u2019s cha\u00adirmanship, had his candidacy withdrawn due to the risk of conviction in the cipher case.<\/p>\n

Sources said that Barrister Hamid Khan was also offered the chairmanship post, but he excused himself because of his professional commitments, after which Barrister Gohar\u2019s name was finalised.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, former premier Imran Khan faces an uphill battle with his ongoing arrest in two NAB references \u2014 Toshakhana and \u00a3190 million corruption.<\/p>\n

NAB Chairman Nazir Ahmed Butt has issued Mr Khan\u2019s arrest warrants in both cases.<\/p>\n

Both cases are pending be\u00ad\u00adfore Islamabad\u2019s accountability court, where Judge Moham\u00admad Bashir will hear the bail pleas on Dec 23 and Dec 27.<\/p>\n

A NAB prosecutor indicated that the accountability court might take at least a month to decide the bail plea in one case. Besides, the dismissal of bail can be challenged before the IHC, which can take another month or so to decide the matter.<\/p>\n

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