26th Amendment 'attack on Constitution', says Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has expressed concern over the recently enacted 26th Constitutional Amendment, empowering parliamentarians to pick the Supreme Court's chief justice, terming it an "attack on the Constitution of Pakistan".

The incarcerated former prime minister made these remarks during his meeting with PTI lawyers, held on the orders of Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said that the incarcerated former prime minister has expressed displeasure over the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

"The PTI founder said the nation has been tyrannised by this act," the lawyer said, adding that Khan refused to comment on the appointment of Justice Yahya Afridi as the next Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).

Faisal further said that the deposed premier, who was removed from power in 2022 via parliamentary votes, has lauded the PTI workers and supporters for their sacrifices. "The PTI founder is not afraid of any adversity," he added.

He added that they were making efforts to reduce hardships being faced by the PTI founder.

Chaudhry claimed that the PTI founder is kept in a six-by-eight cell, adding that he has been subjected to psychological torture.

"An application will be filed in IHC against the circumstances the former premier is being kept."

Furthermore, he said Imran has instructed the leaders to lead from the front.

For his part, PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen said that such "state terrorism" is unprecedented, adding that the jailed party founder was unaware of the passage of the 26th Amendment and Justice Yahya's appointment.

"We informed him about the developments, including the bail of his wife Bushra Bibi," he said, adding that Imran expressed satisfaction over his spouse's release. 

The meeting came after the IHC ordered the Adiala Jail authorities to allow meeting between the incarcerated former premier and his lawyers.

The order came against the backdrop of the PTI’s ongoing strenuous efforts to secure its founder's release.

Earlier, the court ordered the Adiala jail administration to present the PTI founder before the it today at 3pm.

"Bring the PTI founder, he will have a meeting with his lawyers," said the IHC during the hearing of a contempt of court case against the Adiala Jail superintendent.

The jailed politician has been behind bars at the Adiala facility for more than a year due to being embroiled in a plethora of legal cases following his ouster from power in April 2022.

Despite securing relief in many case, the PTI founder remains incarcerated after he was booked in new Toshakhana case related to illegal sale of state gifts.

Khan, along with his wife Bushra Bibi were arrested in the said case soon after their acquittal in the iddat case — also known as the un-Islamic nikah case in July this year.