Ex-PM Imran Khan appears in Supreme Court via video link

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan appeared in the Supreme Court on Thursday by video link from prison, in connection with a case he filed against amendments to the anti-graft laws.

His video appearance was expected to be streamed live on the court’s website and YouTube, making it the first publicly seen visuals of the jailed leader since his arrest in August last year. However, the proceedings of the case were not streamed live on the court’s website.

Thousands of supporters of Khan were waiting on the YouTube channel of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party where the court visuals were expected to be aired.

Imran Khan has been appearing in other courts since being jailed, but cameras are not permitted to cover the proceedings which are usually conducted inside the jail premises.

While the PTI founder has been fighting dozens of cases registered against him, the appearance was in connection with a case he has filed against amendments to NAB law amendments.

The Supreme Court this week ordered the government to ensure that Imran Khan be produced via video link, granting his request to be allowed to represent himself instead of through a lawyer.

Khan, who was removed from power in 2022, was granted bail in a corruption case on Wednesday, but will remain in prison having been convicted in four cases, of which sentences in two have been suspended.

The former prime minister alleged that the cases are part of an effort by his political rivals and the country’s powerful military to sideline him and keep him from returning to power.

Khan-backed candidates won the most seats in national elections earlier this year despite him being in jail, but did not have the numbers to form a government. An alliance of his rivals led by Shehbaz Sharif eventually formed the government.