04/04/2024
The letter from the six high court judges alleged the abduction of family members, torture, installation of cameras in their bedrooms and threats from the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI).
In one case the judges said they were forced to hear an appeal against Khan even after the majority of judges had decided it was not maintainable.
“Considerable pressure was brought to bear on the judges who had opined that the petition was not maintainable, by operatives of the ISI, through friends and relatives of these judges. Fearing for their security, they sought additional protection for their homes. One of the judges had to be admitted in a hospital due to high blood pressure caused by stress,” the letter claimed.
It alleged the brother-in-law of one judge was abducted by “individuals who claimed to be operatives of the ISI” and “tortured into making false allegations”.
Khan was removed from office in a confidence vote in April 2022, and has since faced arrest and charges of corruption, selling state gifts, leaking state secrets and was convicted in a multitude of cases with sentences ranging from 10 to 14 years’ imprisonment. He was charged in more than 100 cases and has been in prison since August. Khan has denied all charges and claimed his treatment is politically motivated, accusing Pakistan’s powerful military chief of harbouring a “personal grudge” against him. The military has denied his claims.