Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday approves the protective bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in five cases registered against him in Islamabad.
PTI Chairman and Former Premier Imran Khan reached LHC earlier today in tight security where a two-member special bench, comprising Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Justice Anwaar Hussain heard the plea and determine whether the bail was extendable or not.
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Today’s Hearing
During today’s hearing, the PTI Chief counsel told the judges that the PTI chairman was seeking protective bail in order to go to Islamabad where several political cases have been registered against him.
In response, Justice Sheikh said that no such precedence can be pointed out when protective bail is granted again.
Imran Khan’s lawyer argued that the legal team was also struggling to understand how to secure bail as so many cases have been registered against the deposed prime minister.
Justice Sheikh said that it’s better if the petitioner approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for bail in cases.
At this, the ex-premier, arguing for himself told the court that he went to Islamabad last time but all roads were blocked by police. “Even today, I appeared before LHC secretly.”
“In Islamabad, police used tear gas and baton-charged the people due to which we had to return,” the cricketer-turned-politician said, claiming that he “ran from there” in order to save his life.
After hearing the arguments, the two-member bench directed the office to fix Khan’s petition and adjourn the hearing for a while.
After the hearing resumed following the court’s direction to fix the petition, Imran Khan’s counsel acknowledged that they know this plea wasn’t “casual” as they are seeking an extension in the protective bail.
“We have a strong ground,” the lawyers said, at which Justice Sheikh directed them to narrate the incidents that took place since the last hearing on March 17 when he was granted protective bail.
Last week, Khan secured protective bail in eight terrorism cases and one civil case — a total of nine — after he appeared before the court in person. 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).
The counsel started narrating the incidents by apprising the court that they went to Islamabad on March 18 to file a bail petition, adding they were not allowed to enter the federal capital.
At this, the two-member bench asked the government’s lawyer to confirm whether bail petitions were filed or not. “We are unaware of this,” the government’s lawyer told the court.
“Were these petitions fixed for hearing?” the judges cross-questioned, at which Khan’s counsel told them that the petitions are currently with the staff of the district and sessions court in Islamabad.
The lawyers maintained that all cases are politically motivated and any relief granted so far hasn’t been misused.
The court asked the PTI chief to submit an affidavit that a bail petition has been submitted in Islamabad.
“We don’t want to set any traditions as the judgement, in this case, will be quoted in the future,” Justice Sheikh said.
At which Imran Khan’s lawyers assure the court that they will “try to” submit the affidavit by 4:45 pm the judges adjourned that hearing for a brief time.
After the hearing resume, Imran Khan’s lawyer told the court that Affidavit has been submitted and urged that to approve Imran Khan Bail till 27th March on which the Court extended the Imran Khan bail till 27 March.
