Major relief
PTI chief gets seven-day bail in Islamabad cases and 10-day bail in Lahore cases
LAHORE
In a major relief for Imran Khan, the Lahore High Court (LHC) Friday approved protective bails of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman in eight terrorism cases and one civil case — a total of nine — after he appeared before the court in person.
The PTI chief had approached the LHC earlier in the day to seek protective bail in nine cases. Five of those cases are registered in Islamabad and four in Lahore.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Justice Farooq Haider conducted the hearing on bail pleas filed against the cases that are lodged under terrorism sections.
For the five cases in Islamabad, the court granted bail to Khan till March 24 and for the three cases in Lahore, he received bail for 10 days (March 27).
Justice Sheikh also heard the bail pleas that the former prime minister filed against the civil cases registered against him, in which he approved the PTI chief’s protective bail till March 27.
The high court has also granted police access to Zaman Park, Khan’s residence in Lahore, for investigating the incidents that transpired on March 14 and March 15 — when clashes left several injured.
The court also wrapped up PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry’s plea against the operation at Zaman Park and ordered the party to ensure it cooperates with the authorities.
Hundreds of PTI supporters accompanied Imran Khan when he visited the high court, while authorities also allowed his bulletproof vehicle to enter the court premises.
At Khan’s Zaman Park residence — which became a battleground on Tuesday — workers shielded the party chairman’s home to thwart his possible arrest. Later, the situation was calm as the Islamabad High Court restricted police from arresting him in the Toshakhana case.
The legal proceedings against Khan began soon after he was ousted from Prime Minister’s Office in a parliamentary vote early last year. Since then, he has been demanding a snap election and holding nationwide protests, and was shot and wounded in one of those rallies in Wazirabad on November 3.
Incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has rejected Khan’s demands, saying the election would be held as scheduled later this year.
Terrorism cases
Khan’s counsel told the court that his client does not have the details of all the cases. In response, Justice Sheikh said that the LHC cannot give the PTI chief blanket bail and it will only consider those cases against which the pleas have been filed.
Khan intervened and said he was confused as numerous cases have been filed against him. “When I get bail in one case, another is there waiting for me.” He added that an “unprecedented” attack was launched on his house.
Justice Saleem told Khan that he should have cooperated with the system and asked the PTI chief to review his actions.
Khan said that he wanted the case filed in the lower court against him to be shifted to another court as it was a “death trap”. He said that he asked authorities for providing him with adequate security.
At this, Justice Saleem said: “Khan sahab, the case has been mishandled at your end.”
The PTI chief then lamented that “94 cases” have been filed against him and if six more were to be lodged, then they would hit 100. “This will be a non-cricket century.”
The court then granted bail to Khan in cases filed in Islamabad till March 24 and in the cases filed in Lahore, he received bail till March 27.
