Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan appeared in the High Court on Friday fearing arrest. The court has granted Khan a protective bail against 9 cases registered against him in Islamabad and Lahore, eight of which were registered under terrorism charges.
The Lahore High Court had directed Punjab Police Chief Dr. Usman Anwar to help Imran Khan reach the court. The court initially said it would hear Imran’s plea for protective bail at 5 pm, but later extended it till 5:30 pm.
PTI leader Farrukh Habib also tweeted about the development.
“Protective bail was granted till March 27 in three cases registered under terrorism provisions in Lahore
Bail has been granted till March 24 in 5 cases listed under terrorism provisions in Islamabad.”
Television footage showed his vehicle entering the court premises. while his caravan was stopped at the gate. A large number of lawyers were also seen inside the court premises. However, about an hour after reaching the court premises, Imran finally entered the courtroom. Television footage showed police in anti-riot gear as the PTI chief entered.
Earlier, the Islamabad court had issued non-bailable warrants against Imran Khan in two separate cases. After this, the Islamabad police had also gone to Lahore twice to arrest Imran Khan, though they failed on both occasions. To avoid all these, Imran Khan has now taken refuge in the High Court. Imran Khan claims that he may be killed if he goes to Islamabad. In such a situation, the court should allow them to appear virtually.
According to the media outlets, a two-member bench of Justice Tariq Salim Sheikh and Justice Farooq Haider heard Imran Khan’s petition. This includes nine cases registered under terrorism charges. Earlier Imran Khan got protective bail in four cases. In the remaining five cases, the plea for bail was heard by a single-member bench of Justice Shaikh. Two of the cases pertain to vandalism in the Islamabad Judicial Complex while the other pertains to police action in Zaman Park. Moreover, one of these cases pertains to the recent death of PTI activist Jila Shah.
Of the terrorism cases, five were registered in Islamabad while the remaining were registered in Lahore. A two-judge LHC bench granted Imran protective bail in the terrorism cases registered in Lahore till March 27 and protective bail till March 24 in the cases registered in Islamabad.
