ISLAMABAD: A three-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) Thursday directed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to appear before it on July 24 for the hearing of his plea against the case related to the murder of a senior lawyer Abdul Razzaq Shar in Quetta.

The former prime minister had filed a plea in the SC seeking the quashing of the FIR that nominated him in the murder case of Advocate Shar, who was shot dead in Quetta on June 6.

A first information report (FIR) had been registered against Khan and others on the complaint of the slain lawyer’s son, advocate Siraj Ahmed, in Quetta, under the charges of murder, Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and other provisions.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Ataullah Tarar held the PTI chairman “directly responsible” for the murder, claiming that the targeted killing was related to a treason case against Imran under Article 6 of the Constitution, which Shar was pleading.

A three-member bench comprising Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Mussarat Hilali heard Khan's plea.

"The petitioner has to surrender before the court to get relief," Justice Afridi remarked during the hearing.

The justice told Khan's lawyer to tell the PTI chief to appear before the court in a personal capacity.

Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi inquired if the former premier could appear today. At this, lawyer Latif Khosa informed the court that Khan would appear in the SC in an hour.

Meanwhile, Justice Afridi remarked that it would be better if the government's lawyer submitted their reply first.

The lawyers representing complainants of the case said that the case was about the PTI chief's appearance before the joint investigation team (JIT) of the murder case.

Khan's lawyer responded to the argument by saying that the defence does not acknowledge the JIT in a murder case.

At this, Justice Naqvi told the lawyer to take the matter seriously, saying that the petitioner is supposed to appear in person to acquire bail or orders for quashing the FIR.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing till July 24, ordering PTI chief to appear at 10:30am.

The former prime minister, who is embroiled in a slew of cases, had moved the apex court against his nomination in the case related to Shar's shooting in Quetta in June. 

Besides bail in the case, he also requested to set aside the Balochistan High Court’s (BHC) decision to reject a similar petition.

However, the two-member bench of the SC comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsen and Justice Ayesha A Malik rejected Khan's bail plea and refused to suspend the BHC's order without hearing other parties in the matter.