ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted ten-day protective bail to PTI’s Chairman Imran Khan in seven FIRs and instructed him to approach Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) during time. Court also extended his bail in other two cases till May 9.

Two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced verdict which was earlier reserved after hearing arguments from lawyers in FIRs pertaining incitement against state institution and vandalizing in judicial complex Islamabad. Imran Khan appeared before court amid foolproof security arrangements in place. Chief Justice remarked that court was extending bail of petitioner but he had to appear before trial courts as well for relief. Imran Khan had not even joined investigation, he said.

Chief Justice directed PTI’s Chief to record his statement to police in same day as per legal procedure for it. Justice Aamer Farooq questioned whether petitioner wanted to remove security arrangement. Who would take responsibility if something happened untoward, he asked.

Addressing Imran Khan’s lawyers, Chief Justice remarked that ‘don’t perceive impression that someone wanted to arrest petitioner.’ He said that petitioner should feel protection due to heavy security. Imran Khan’s counsel Salman Safdar argued that division bench asked them to directly approach relevant courts but they couldn’t do this due to some reasons. His client was harassed by police even today when he was coming to appear before court, he said, adding that police should be asked about any FIR which it had not told his client.

He said that Imran Khan had appeared before court on wheelchair. He wanted to appear before ATC this day but couldn’t do due to security issues. Lawyer said that decisions of top court was very clear about criminal cases. They had been asking police for month to record statement of Imran Khan but no response was received. He said that his client wanted to appear simultaneously in all cases.

Advocate General Jahangir Jadoon pleaded that fake medical report of Imran Khan had been submitted to court. He said not even single false case was registered against accused. He said that government would ensure foolproof security to Imran Khan as he come to appear before court. 

Court said that it had not accepted medical report of petitioner and instructed Imran Khan’s lawyers to produce report of government hospital next time if they submit exemption application on medical grounds.

Fawad Chaudhry said that Imran Khan had appeared despite of injuries, adding that Lahore High Court had made full court bench to 121 cases.

Meanwhile, court also heard petition seeking to stop actions against Imran Khan under registered FIRs. Court removed objections of registrar office and fixed case for hearing on May 9.

Court also sought legal documents in petition regarding appearance of Imran Khan through video link.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 05 2023

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