LAHORE: On Tuesday, the Lahore High Court (LHC) approved Imran Khan’s protective bail in the corruption and terrorism cases brought against him. Using a “decoy vehicle,” the former prime minister appeared before the high court to request bail.
Through his attorney Salman Safdar, Khan had submitted two petitions asking for bail in the terrorism-related cases brought against him. The arguments were taken up by Justices Farooq Haider and Shehbaz Rizvi. The court had instructed Khan to be present at 2:15 p.m. today (Tuesday) if he wanted the court to hear his request for protective bail in the cases during the previous hearing.
Khan’s attorney was also instructed by the court to confirm his client’s signature. Khan, 70, is involved in a number of legal proceedings, including one that resulted in an unsuccessful attempt to have him arrested after a court issued arrest warrants for him for failing to appear before it. The court granted Khan a protective bail until March 27 (Monday) during the hearing that was held today. Following altercations between PTI workers and the police outside the Federal Judicial Complex after Khan arrived there to attend the hearing of the Toshakhana case last week, Islamabad’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and the Police Station Golra Sharif filed cases against Khan and several other PTI leaders.
According to the police, the protesters resorted to arson and vandalism and attacked the law-enforcement officials who were performing their duty to maintain law and order in the capital.
The FIR stated that the workers destroyed a police checkpost and broke the main gate of the judicial complex.
As many as 18 people were arrested for arson, pelting stones, and vandalising the judicial complex’s building, said the FIR.
“About two police vehicles and seven motorcycles were burned, and the official vehicle of the station house officer (SHO) was damaged,” it added.
Khan had also filed a plea seeking protective bail in two cases filed by NAB against him.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi heard the petition.
During the hearing, Khan said that he spends all his time in courts when the date for elections has been announced and he is unable to distribute tickets.
“About 100 FIRs have been filed against me in a single month,” he added.
Later, the court approved his bail for 10 days.
Khan during the hearing his contempt petition against the police operation at his Zaman Park residence, Khan told the court that police smashed the window panes of his house while his wife was alone in there.
Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh heard the case. Khan further informed the court that he was in Islamabad when the police raided his house and he had the footage of the police action.
The PTI chief said that he reached the court in a decoy vehicle today which no one knew about. “I have travelled to the court without any motorcade today,” he added.
He said that barriers were placed in different places to prevent him from appearing before the court.
Justice Saleem remarked that those who were mocking the judiciary through the media would face consequences.
“I will take contempt of court action [against them] if any of the parties fail to respect the judiciary,” he remarked.
The court directed the prosecutor to appear with instructions related to the Zaman Park operation.
Justice Saleem adjourned the hearing of the contempt plea till tomorrow.
