Imran Khan kept exercising during SC hearing while waiting for his turn: journalists

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, Imran Khan, kept exercising while waiting for his turn during his appearance in the Supreme Court on Thursday for the hearing of the NAB law amendments case, journalists present at the moment said.

The hearing saw Imran Khan participating via video link as a petitioner from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where he is currently incarcerated in several cases.

Reports from the Supreme Court hearing mentioned that the former prime minister swung his arms and moved his neck from side to side. 

While previous proceedings of the case were broadcast live, today's hearing was conducted in-camera.

A picture of Imran Khan in a blue shirt during the appearance via video link was also leaked on social media.

Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa presided over the hearing, alongside other members of the larger bench, including Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Athar Minallah, and Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi.

The Supreme Court had directed the federal and Punjab governments to allow Imran Khan to appear before the court via video link.

The NAB amendments introduced by the then PDM government in 2022, shortened the terms of the chairman NAB and prosecutor general, narrowed the scope of cases NAB could pursue to over Rs500 million, and transferred all remaining investigations and trials to other relevant authorities.

Imran Khan approached the apex court to challenge these amendments, alleging they were tailored to favour the accused and aimed at ending corruption cases against public office holders.

In September 2023, the Supreme Court ordered the restoration of all corruption cases involving public officials. The following month, a five-judge bench admitted intra-court appeals against its September judgment and halted accountability courts from finalising graft cases.