Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has rejected the Punjab government's request for the physical remand of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former prime minister Imran Khan. Instead, the court has directed the Punjab government to approach the trial court for permission to conduct photogrammetry, polygraph, and voice matching tests in connection with the events of May 9, 2023.ýýThe court stated that Imran Khan's lawyers reserve the right to oppose the Punjab government's request in the trial court. The head of the bench, Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, remarked that it has been a year and a half since the suspect's arrest, and physical remand is not granted after such a long delay. However, the Punjab government may still approach the trial court if it wishes to do so.ýýA three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar and comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, on Wednesday heard petitions filed by the Prosec utor General of Punjab challenging the Lahore High Court's decision to nullify the physical remand in the cases related to the events of May 9, 2023, involving Imran Khan and former Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema.ýýThe bench ruled that the provincial government was free to approach the trial court if it still sought remand.ýýHowever, the court maintained that Imran Khan's legal team reserves the right to contest any such application.ýýJustice Hashim Kakar - while announcing the verdict - remarked that 'a year and a half has passed since the arrest of the accused - the question of physical remand at this stage simply does not arise.'ýýThe case pertains to the provincial government's demand for physical custody of the former prime minister for the purpose of conducting various forensic tests, including photographic, polygraphic (lie-detector), and voice-matching examinations.ýýDuring the hearing, Punjab's Prosecutor General contended that these tests were essential to the investigation. However, Justice Kakar noted that the application under review pertained solely to physical remand, not to any forensic testing.ýýJustice Salahuddin Panhwar questioned the rationale behind the request, remarking, 'Such tests have never been conducted in even the gravest of cases - including murder or zina. One hopes the state would exhibit the same zeal in cases involving the common man.'