Interim bail will be cancelled if Imran doesn't appear before court: IHC

Court irked by non-appearance of PTI chairman in personal capacity

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) warned on Wednesday that if Imran Khan did not appear before the IHC in a case pertaining to inciting the institutions to revolt during the working hours, the interim bail will be cancelled.

As the hearing started in case of inciting the institutions to revolt against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chairman, the court expressed its annoyance at non-appearance of Imran Khan in personal capacity. 

Chief Justice Amir Farooq inquired where was the petitioner? Lawyer Naeem Haider Panjotha said he could not attend court so he had filed an exemption plea. The chief justice asked where was the request for exemption. The lawyer replied that the application had been filed.

The chief justice remarked that if petitioner Imran Khan did not appear before the court within the working hours, the interim bail would be cancelled. "They are making fun of courts. They are taking high court as a civil court. Either we have come down or they have come up,” he remarked. 

Later, the Islamabad High Court adjourned the hearing until the appearance of the PTI chief during court hours.

IMRAN KHAN DECIDES AGAINST APPEARING IN IHC

Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan decided not to appear in the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday (today), May 3, after consulting with his legal team. 

A decision was made to take legal action against the witnesses in the Iddat case and Imran Khan would file a defamation claim based on the recording of the statements made by the witnesses. 

Imran Khan's legal team met him to discuss the matter and it included Khawaja Haris, Naeem Panjotha, Intizar Panjotha and Hassaan Niazi. Imran Khan's chief of staff Shibli Faraz was also present at the meeting.

Sources reveal that Mufti Muhammad Saeed and Awn Chaudhary, who are witnesses in the Iddat case, would be the targets of the defamation claim. Furthermore, Imran Khan's legal team contacted Shahzad Akbar, who is living abroad, to provide support to them for the ToshaKhana case.

It was also reported that Imran Khan's legal team would file a request for exemption from attendance.In the application filed for entry of his vehicle in the Islamabad High Court, Imran Khan declared that his life is threatened when he appears in Islamabad courts.

Sources say that Imran Khan expressed serious distrust of the Islamabad police security to his legal team.