ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday disposed of Punjab Prosecution Department`s appeals seeking physical remand of PTI founder Imran Khan.

Headed by Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, a three-judge bench also asked Punjab`s prosecution department to approach the trial court concerned, if it wants, though the PTI founder will have the right to oppose any such move.

During the hearing Punjab`s Special Prosecutor Zulifqar Naqvi pleaded that polygraphic and voice matching tests of PTI`s founder was needed, but Justice Kakar reminded him that no such request has been made in the petition seeking physical remand of Mr Khan.

`Why did the physical remand come up after one and a half years,` the court wondered, adding the question of physical remand could not arise after such a delay.

The special prosecutor, however, replied that since the PTI founder `did not cooperate`, permission was being sought through the apex court.

Justice Kakar wondered what kind of cooperation was needed from a person who is in jail, adding the government should seek permission from the trial court and get the test done.

The specialprosecutorexplained that on July 14, 2024, the investigating team went to the jail to interrogate thefounder ofPTI,but the accused refused to cooperate,adding the case record contains messages on the founder of PTPs Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, in which it was stated that if the founder PTI was arrested, protest demonstrations should be arranged.

At this, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar observed that if all these statements were in the USB, then the prosecution department should go and get the forensic test done.

However, such tests have never been conducted in any ordinary murder case, observed Justice Panhwar also wondering why the prosecution was never get so active in ordinary murder cases? Justice Kakar observed that that if the court made any observation, the trial might be affected. Heremarked, `We were judges from small provinces. Our hearts are very pure.

He recalled that only a few days ago a criminal case was heard in which the appeal was accepted for preliminary hearing in 2017. The accused in the case spent seven years in death cell before being acquitted by the apex court.

In its order, the SC disposed of the appeals for the physical remand of the PTIfounderstatingthe prosecution was free to approach the trial court for the polygraphic test, photographic test and voice matching test of the founder of PTI. However, the legal team of Mr Khan could raise legal and factual objections when such an application was received in the trial court, the order said.