IHC grants interim bail to Imran Khan in seven cases
Pakistan
Imran Khan will seek interim bail in five cases related to vandalism in the judicial complex
LAHORE (Dunya News) – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted interim bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in seven cases and stopped police from arresting him.
The IHC bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the case after the PTI chief arrived from Lahore to seek pre-arrest bail in the cases registered against him in the federal capital.
Imran Khan told the court that the country was going through an unprecedented situation and that his life was in danger.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan arrived at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to seek protective bail in seven terrorism cases including vandalism in the judicial complex. Multiple cases were registered against the former prime minister at Islamabad's Ramna, CTD and Golra police stations.
A video on PTI’s official Twitter showed the PTI chairman arriving in the court premises with huge contingent of Islamabad police surrounding his vehicles. PTI leaders Murad Saeed, Musarrat Cheema and others accompanied Mr Khan.
عمران خان کی گاڑی اسلام آباد ہائیکورٹ کے دروازے پر موجود۔
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 27, 2023
pic.twitter.com/aDGCCffxY5
The decision to appear before courts was earlier taken during a meeting presided over by Imran Khan himself, where he discussed the matter with party leadership and legal team. The meeting, which was held on Sunday, saw Imran Khan consulting with members of his party to finalise the plan for his court appearance.
It was decided that the PTI chief would travel to Islamabad on Monday morning to attend the hearing. Fawad Chaudhry already left for Islamabad with the party's legal team.
چئیرمین عمران خان زمان پارک سے اسلام آباد ہائی کورٹ کے لیے روانہ
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 27, 2023
pic.twitter.com/fTUf5ScczA
Additionally, other central leaders of the PTI are expected to accompany Imran Khan to court.
-- SSP to handle security arrangements --
Meanwhile, the Islamabad police tweeted that an important meeting was chaired by the inspector-general of police over the expected court appearance of Imran Khan to discuss security arrangements. It was decided that field supervision of security arrangements will be taken care of by SSP Yasir Afridi.
اسلام آباد میں دفعہ 144 نافذ العمل ہے ۔خلاف ورزی کرنے والوں کے خلاف گرفتاریاں عمل میں لائی جائیں گی۔
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) March 26, 2023
عدالتی احکامات کی روشنی میں صرف متعلقہ افراد کو عدالتی احاطے میں داخلے کی اجازت ہوگی۔
Amir Kiyani has been entrusted with coordination on behalf of the PTI, while Malik Jameel Zafar will be the head of coordination between the police and PTI through Kiyani.
A central control room has been established at the Safe City Headquarters, the Islamabad police further shared.
Meanwhile, Section 144 is in force in Islamabad and violators will be arrested.
In the light of court orders, only people concerned would be allowed to enter the court premises, the police tweeted. The Islamabad police expressed ignorance about the arrival of Imran Khan in the federal capital. In a tweet, a spokesman said police would make security arrangements only in the light of court orders.
-- Imran's protective bail extended till March 27 by LHC --
On March 24, the Lahore High Court gave relief to former premier Imran Khan by extending his protective bail in five cases till March 27. The cases were filed against Imran Khan in Islamabad and these included “vandalism” during his recent appearance in the judicial complex.
The high court cancelled the reservations related to the plea of former premier Imran Khan seeking protective bail in five cases.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Justice Anwaar Hussain heard the petition filed by the former prime minister for renewal of his protective bail as he failed to appear before the relevant courts in the cases registered at the Ramna and Khana police stations.
When asked if the Supreme Court would intervene in the recent decision of the Election Commission regarding the postponement of elections, the PTI chief said if the apex court failed to annul this decision, it would also be uncertain whether the polls would be held in October.
Barrister Salman Safdar and Advocate Azhar Siddique represented the PTI chief in the case. A heavy contingent of police was deployed at the high court in order to avoid any untoward situation.
Barrister Salman said reservations were raised at the PTI chief's plea for bail, therefore petition was reapplied. He said extension was requested in the already given plea. Responding, Justice Tariq Saleem said the Islamabad High Court should be approached for this purpose.
At this, Imran's lawyer raised issue of his leader's security and said he also came to the LHC with security.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan came to the rostrum and said chaos took place in the judicial complex and the court could see video of that incident while saying no prime minister in the country's histroy had to face this kind of victimisation.
Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan reached the Lahore High Court (LHC) from his Zaman Park residence to secure protective bail in five cases registered against him in Islamabad.
On Tuesday, the LHC granted protective bail to the former premier in two other cases registered under terrorism charges against him in Islamabad following last week’s clashes at the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) during his appearance in the Toshakhana case.
The first information reports (FIRs) were registered at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and the Golra police stations, accusing the PTI chief and his supporters of attacking police, torching security vehicles and creating unrest outside the judicial complex.
A two-judge LHC bench comprising Justice Shehbaz Rizvi and Justice Farooq Haider had granted protective bail to Imran Khan in the terrorism cases till March 27.
-- CTD Islamabad summons Imran Khan, 17 other PTI leaders today --
Islamabad’s counter-terrorism department (CTD) summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and 17 other PTI leaders to take part in the investigation for the case lodged against them for vandalism at the Islamabad's Federal Judicial Complex.
The PTI leaders include Murad Saeed, Amir Kiyani, Amjad Niazi, Raja Khurram Nawaz, Ali Amin Gandapur, Shibli Faraz, Asad Umar, Dr Shehzad Wasim, Farrukh Habib, Omer Ayub, Hammad Azhar, Asad Qaiser, Hassan Niazi, Amir Mughal, Jamshed Khan, Ali Nawaz Awan and retired Col Asim.
Ten PTI leaders including Mr Khan were summoned in connection with the case lodged at the Golra police station while the remaining had been summoned for investigation in cases lodged at the CTD police station.
