If govt fails to produce detainee, SC will summon PM: CJP
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Expressing its indignation over non-production of accused Arif Gul, the Supreme Court warned that it will summon Prime Minister Imran Khan, if the accused is not produced before the court, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmad heard on Monday a habeas corpus petition of accused Arif Gul, resident of a tribal area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
During the hearing, CJP Gulzar asked the additional attorney general to produce the accused before the court. But the additional AG told the court that it was difficult to bring Arif Gul from the detention centre situated in a far off area.
Taking offence, the chief justice remarked that the court had the authority to summon even all the defence operatives. If there is corruption in government offices, what the court should do, the CJP asked.
The advocate general of the KP said that accused Arif Gul attacked an Army camp near Afghan border and his counselling and vocational training had been completed.
Both the additional AG and KP advocate general pleaded with the court that they could not bring the accused today, as was ordered by the court and needed more time as the distance was long and the accused could not reach Islamabad today. But the court rejected their request. However, when the court resumed hearing after the break, it accepted their request and adjourned the hearing till tomorrow.
Earlier, during the hearing Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmad remarked that the court building would not be blown away if Arif Gul would appear before the bench. “If you do not want to produce Arif Gul, then you should lock down the Supreme Court building,” he added.
The CJP warned if the accused was not produced then he would summon Prime Minister Imran Khan.
He asked the additional AG why the nationality issue of Arif Gul had not been solved since 2019. If there is corruption in government offices, what the court should do, he added.
Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel remarked that since FATA and PATA have come under the full control of the KP government so the law under which Arif Gul was put in the detention comes under the purview of country’s judicial system too.
Reporter Imanat Gishkori