ISLAMABAD: As he decried legal proceedings against him which allegedly flouted the fundamentals of a fair trial, PTI Chairman Imran Khan appeared before a joint investigation team (JIT) at the office of Capital Police Officer (CPO) Operations on Sunday where investigators questioned him for more than two hours.

In a statement shared by police on Twitter, the former prime minister was required in 12 cases by the JIT, but the PTI chairman has not joined the probe in at least five cases.

After his appearance before the investigation team, Mr Khan also decided to stay at his Banigala residence for one night — a place he had been avoiding for months.

The reason for his stay at Banigala is another appearance scheduled for Monday (today) in connection with at least eight cases registered against him. “There are eight cases on Monday, in which Mr Khan has been considering to appear…,” a PTI spokesperson said.

IHC ‘misled’ lawyers

The PTI chairman criticised a decision by a sessions court which declared the Toshakhana case against him maintainable and alleged that the high court also ‘misled’ his legal team in the case.

The ex-PM claimed that the court order was passed without even giving his legal team the opportunity of hearing and added that this “clearly showed a clear pattern of prejudice and bias” to disqualify him and keep him out of the political arena.

He alleged that all matters were being decided in clear violation of the principles of a fair trial and natural justice.

“The order by the trial judge in the Toshakhana case stating that it was maintainable clearly shows bias and mala fide [intent] for getting a decision of conviction against me.”

He claimed that firstly, his lawyers were “misled” by the high court as it was announced that their criminal revision against the order of the trial court was accepted but when the written order came out, the case was remanded back for decision afresh on their application to the same judge who had already earlier disclosed his mind by deciding against them.

“Secondly, the trial court was given seven days to decide on my application but it has been decided hastily in three days without even giving my lawyer an opportunity of a hearing despite the fact that my lawyers had requested an adjournment for Monday as the remand order was already assailed before SC and has been numbered and may be fixed for hearing at any time even before the lapse of stipulated 7 days,” he claimed.

“This shows a clear pattern of prejudice and bias against me in an effort to disqualify me and keep me out of the political arena,” according to the former premier. Last week, the sessions revived the Toshakhana case, saying the lead counsel did not appear before the court and the reference was affecting the routine proceedings of his court.

Separately, PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi responded to a statement made by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal accusing the former ruling party of stalling the CPEC. Mr Qureshi said there “has always been strong consensus [in PTI] on taking CPEC forward, and under Imran Khan’s leadership they successfully implemented the important projects, deepening Pakistan’s commitment to CPEC”.

The PTI leader said that the Faisalabad and Rashakai industrial zones were made operational by the PTI government and the Dhabeji Industrial Zone was also finalised during its tenure.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2023