In a relief for Imran Khan, the Islamabad High Court on Monday granted the former Pakistan Prime Minister and Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief interim bail in seven cases filed against him following clashes outside the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC), The Dawn reported. The clashes took place on March 18 when Imran Khan had appeared in the Toshakhana case.
Khan reached the court earlier in the day. A video of him arriving at the court premises with a huge team of Islamabad police surrounding his vehicles was posted on Twitter by his party PTI.
PTI leaders Murad Saeed, Musarrat Cheema and others accompanied Imran.
Imran Khan’s Plea In Islamabad HC
In his petition, the PTI chairman sought protective bail in seven cases that are registered against him at Golra, Bara Kahu, Ramna, Khanna, and CTD police stations in cases related to violence outside the Federal Judicial Complex on March 18. This is the same complex where Imran Khan had appeared in the Toshakhana case, Dawn mentioned in its report.
According to Dawn’s report, the plea stated, “The petitioner will suffer irreparable loss in case he is arrested for an offence, which he has not committed. Furthermore, being head of the single largest political party, there is an apprehension that his political adversaries and opponents would be able to further their nefarious designs and political ambitions if pre-arrest bail is not granted to the petitioner.” He went on to request the court to grant him protective bail in all seven cases.
Section 144 in Islamabad
Meanwhile, the Islamabad administration imposed Section 144 (ban on public gatherings) in the capital and warned of arrests in case of the violation of its order. It took to Twitter and said, “In light of court orders, only relevant individuals will be allowed to enter the court premises.”
PTI Leader Fawad Hussain Slams Government
On the other hand, PTI leader Fawad Hussain slammed the PM Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan government and said that it was the fourth time within a week that Imran Khan was appearing before the court.
He tweeted, “What are the charges? You came to court with your supporters because of which the outer gate [of the court] broke, hence you are a terrorist.”
All About The Case
Imran Khan was set to be indicted by the sessions court in the Toshakhana case on February 28 when his lawyer urged the judge to exempt him from hearing. The lawyer said that Khan had to appear in several other courts.
Notably, Khan’s indictment was deferred multiple times before.
Following the misses, the judge issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Imran and instructed the police to present him in court by March 7. However, Khan dodged the arrest in highly intense drama and later approached the IHC for the cancellation of the warrants.
The IHC asked Khan to appear on March 13 instead of March 7. Despite this, the former Pak PM missed the hearing compelling authorities to issue non-bailable warrants for him. The court instructed the police to bring him by March 18.
Chaos followed when police reached Imran Khan’s residence at Zaman Park in Lahore leading to clashes between the police and Khan’s supporters.
His party PTI then challenged the latest arrest warrants in the IHC. The court rejected the plea and directed Khan to submit an undertaking to the trial court. After the submission of the undertaking, the sessions court said that the warrants could not be suspended on the basis of an undertaking.