A special court allowed the police on Friday to interrogate former prime minister Imran Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in cases related to the May 9 events.

Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain, who gave the orders, said he was giving the permission only for investigation according to the law.

Violent protests broke out when PTI Chairman Khan was first arrested in a graft case within the premises of Islamabad High Court. The government arrested several PTI leaders after it launched a crackdown on the people who damaged state properties and vandalised military installations.

It merits here to mention that earlier this week a special court established under the Official Secrets Act indicted Khan and Qureshi in the cipher case. Both the suspects are incarcerated in Adiala Jail.

On Thursday, judge Zulqarnain gave permission at the request of a Rawalpindi police officer who urged the court to allow making the two suspects part of the investigation at the Adiala Jail.

The judge had asked whether the two were earlier made part of the investigation. The police officer replied negatively, saying that they had to be interrogated after the statements of the co-accused.

The officer added that they have a Federal Investigation Agency report related to May 9.

Special court judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain reviewed the cases registered against the two suspects and granted approval to the police’s request.

On Friday, the Islamabad High Court rejected Khan’s bail petition in the cipher case on Friday, ruling that the Official Secrets Act could be applied to his actions.

The judgement said that the matter of Khan’s bail and the FIR being quashed has been addressed in a single judgement due to the overlap of lengthy arguments made in the case.

Meanwhile, judge Zulqarnain rejected the Gujranwala police request for interrogating Khan in a case registered at Cantt Police Station.

A police officer told the court that he was part of the JIT and investigation officer in a case related to May 9. He added that 14 policemen were wounded in the attack on Gujranwala Cantt.

The judge asked whether the investigation was earlier conducted or not. The police officer replied in negative, saying that earlier the PTI chief was interrogated. He added that sections of murder, attempt to murder, and terrorism were added to the complaint.

Judge Zulqarnain asked that without the FIA report, how was it certain that PTI chairman was involved in the crime? The judge remarked that the police were not sure whether the PTI chairman was involved in the incident or not.

He advised the police to first look at the social media account.