LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan received a three-day precautionary bail extension in five federal capital cases on Friday.
Khan, who was ousted in April last year by a no-confidence motion, arrived at the LHC today under heavy security. A two-member special bench of Judge Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Justice Anwaar Hussain heard the plea. They decided whether the bail was maintainable.
The former prime minister claims his several court cases politically motivated to keep him out of elections later this year.
Khan and his followers clashed last week when police stormed his Zaman Park home and on his way to the Islamabad High Court. Authorities dispersed protesters by firing tear gas and water cannons.
Although the PTI head had already received bail, the LHC Registrar’s Office objected to the plea today.
Khan’s counsel told the judges that the former premier requesting protected bail to travel to the federal capital to face many political matters.
Khan’s lawyer said that the legal team was also unable to acquire bail due to the multiple charges against the former prime leader.
Judge Sheikh advised registering this petition before the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Khan claimed that when he entered Islamabad, Government closed all the roads.
The cricketer-turned-politician said he “run from there” to save his life because police used tear gas and baton-charged protesters in Islamabad.
The government’s lawyer objected to Khan’s counsel’s request for a working day to reach Islamabad.
Hearing Adjourned
The two-member panel adjourned the hearing till the office fixed Khan’s plea after hearing the arguments.
Khan’s counsel agreed that they recognize their plea isn’t “casual”. As they’re requesting an extension of protective bail. When the hearing restarted after the court fixed the petition.
“We have a strong ground,” the lawyers stated. Judge Sheikh ordered them to recount the events since the March 17 hearing when the court granted protective bail to Imran Khan
Khan received protective bail in eight terrorism counts and one civil case last week after appearing in court. Khan secured 10-day bail for the three Lahore cases and five Islamabad cases until March 24. (March 27).
The counsel told the court they travelled to Islamabad on March 18 to file a bail petition but were denied entry.
The two-member bench asked the government’s lawyer if bail petitions submitted or not. The government’s counsel told the court, “We’re unaware.”
Khan’s counsel said that the applications are with Islamabad’s district and sessions court personnel.
The LHC ordered officials to contact the prosecutor-general within 30 minutes. The court was informed that he wasn’t there.
The judge said that the petition bail cannot be heard until the petitioner is present. “This is why the case wasn’t heard since Khan was unable to come before the court”. The PTI chief’s counsel claimed, continuing his timeline of events.
The court requested an affidavit from the PTI head that a bail plea was filed in Islamabad.
“We don’t want to set any traditions as the judgement, in this case, would be quoted,” Justice Sheikh stated.
Khan’s lawyers promise to “attempt” to provide the affidavit by 4:45pm, when the judges adjourned the hearing.
