Why Imran Khan wore ‘sky blue shirt’ during court hearing via video link?
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan made a highly anticipated appearance before the Supreme Court via video link from prison on Thursday, seeking to challenge recent amendments to the country’s anti-graft laws.
Despite expectations for a live stream of the proceedings on the court’s website and YouTube, the broadcast failed to materialize, leaving many of Khan’s supporters disappointed and fueling widespread speculation.
The Supreme Court session, which spanned three hours, saw Khan’s microphone muted for a significant duration.
مدینہ منورہ میں کھجوروں کی تقسیم pic.twitter.com/GOZ7uWARm9
— Imran Khan (@ImranRiazKhan) May 17, 2024
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa eventually adjourned the hearing, noting that the same video link arrangement would be utilized for the next session.
A new hearing date will be set following consultations among the judges.
PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan demanded that the proceedings be live-streamed at the next hearing to ensure transparency.
The absence of the live stream did not dampen social media activity. Posts about Khan’s appearance surged to over 200,000 on X (formerly Twitter) within hours.
Initially, up to 15,000 supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party gathered on the party’s YouTube channel, awaiting the broadcast.
جیل میں ناحق قید سابق وزیراعظم عمران خان کی یہ تصاویر زندان میں ڈالے جانے کے 285 روز بعد آج ایک عدالتی پیشی کے دوران سوشل میڈیا پر ظاہر ہوئیں۔ pic.twitter.com/nWukhba3Yv
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 16, 2024
This number dwindled to below 5,000 once it became evident that the live stream would not take place.
A screen grab from Khan’s video link, showing him freshly shaven with dyed hair and wearing a sky-blue polo shirt, quickly went viral.
The image, which appeared to match the visuals shown inside the courtroom, was circulated by PTI and widely shared on social media. “Picture is out. So will be him, soon,” read a post on X.
The origin of the screen grab remained unverified, prompting court staff to investigate, though no formal actions were taken.
During the proceedings, Khan remained seated and appeared uncomfortable, frequently shifting positions when not addressed by the court, according to a Reuters reporter present at the hearing.
The Supreme Court had earlier granted Khan’s request to represent himself via video link, allowing him to bypass legal representation.
Khan, who was ousted from power in 2022, was granted bail on Wednesday in a land corruption case but remains incarcerated due to convictions in four other cases, with sentences in two of these suspended.
The former prime minister, who maintains significant popularity in Pakistan, alleges that the legal actions against him are part of a coordinated effort by political rivals and the military to sideline him and prevent his return to power.
Both the government and the military deny these accusations.
In the national elections held earlier this year, Khan’s PTI won the most seats but did not secure enough to form a government.
An alliance of his political opponents, led by former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, ultimately formed the government.
Why Imran Khan wore ‘sky blue shirt’ during court hearing
Sky blue is usually associated with friendship, dreams, and hope. Sometimes, the symbolism behind sky blue is linked to divinity and accessibility due to the color’s cool tones.
Sky blue color also means peace, tranquility, and confidence.
It seems Imran Khan wanted to tell his opponents that he was hopeful and would be out of jail soon. He also gave a message that he is open for dialogue for the sake of peace.
The sky blue shirt also hinted that Imran Khan is calm amidst the chaos.
