Imran's plea against arrests in cases after May 9 referred to LHC's larger bench
Pakistan
LHC announces reserved verdict on plea
LAHORE (Dunya News) – The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday referred the case against PTI chief Imran Khan's arrest in any case registered on or after May 9 to the LHC's larger bench.
Justice Safdar Saleem Shahid announced the verdict court had reserved earlier on Mr Khan's plea remarking that the larger bench had been hearing this sort of cases. "It should hear this case too," the court remarked.
At the outset of the hearing, Justice Safdar Saleem Shahid inquired about the PTI chief’s whereabouts.
His lawyer, Barrister Salman Safdar, submitted that his client did not have protective bail. He said it was feared that the Punjab government would arrest him as he was named in several cases registered on the “directions” of the Punjab government.
Barrister Salman said the Punjab government was targeting political opponents. He informed the court that if the court desired, Imran could be presented after 11am.
However, the state lawyer opposed and said Imran’s plea was inadmissible. The PTI chief was seeking protective bail without appearing before the court, he added.
Barrister Salman responded by saying that his client was not seeking protective bail and asked for the case to be sent to a larger bench.
The court subsequently reserved its verdict.
ATC grants exemption from appearance
The Special Anti-Terrorism Court of Lahore on Tuesday accepted Imran Khan's plea for exemption from attendance and extended his interim bail till May 19.
Judge Ijaz Ahmad Buttar announced his reserved verdict on the plea of Imran Khan for exemption from personal appearance in two cases of arson and police violence at Zaman Park.
The lawyer pleaded that Imran’s request for personal appearance for today (Tuesday) be granted. The judge remarked that since the approval of interim bail, Imran appeared before the court once.
Judge Buttar questioned the lawyer if there were any barriers from the ATC court to Zaman Park. The situation in Lahore was normal. There’s no justification for seeking exemption from personal appearance.
The ATC is close to the high court, only five minutes away, the judge said.
Advocate Salman pleaded that Imran was ready to appear through video link. He is 72 years old, he added.
On it, the court reserved its verdict.
