LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has given Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan a last chance to appear today till 5 pm.
When the hearing resumed after several suspensions, the former prime minister’s lawyer Khawaja Tariq Rahim admitted that the bail application was not signed by Imran Khan.
Taking notice of Imran Khan’s absence despite the orders at the beginning of the hearing, Justice Tariq Saleem Shaikh inquired where the PTI chief was when he was asked to appear in the court at 2 pm.
Khan’s lawyer told the court that his client was on his way and was delayed due to security issues.
Justice Shaikh told the lawyer that it was not his problem to resolve the security issues and then adjourned the hearing briefly.
When the hearing resumed, lawyer Khawaja Tariq Rahim said that there was traffic on Mall Road due to which the PTI chief came late. He added that the police had told him that the mall road would remain clear for traffic but there was a traffic jam.
The lawyer then told the court that his client does not consider himself bigger than the High Court, PTI chief will come but arrangements need to be made.
When the judge pressed the lawyer to give reasons for his client’s non-appearance, the lawyer said that the impression was being created that Imran Khan did not want to appear in court.
Let me issue a show-cause notice and fix a date after three weeks, the judge remarked. On this, the lawyer said that Imran Khan will come tomorrow.
“Not so fast,” the judge replied, telling the lawyer to let him write the order because “you’re making a mockery of the law”.
The judge of Lahore High Court said that Imran Khan is a leader, a role model and he should remain so.
On this, the lawyer promised to bring Imran Khan by 5 pm. The judge then said that this is the last chance for Imran Khan as the court has already given him concession.
Lahore High Court ordered Khan to appear on February 20.
The PTI chief was summoned by the court when he called for a meeting last week and noticed the discrepancy in his petition.
The former prime minister was summoned by the court after he appeared in a terrorism case registered against him by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for alleged vandalism during a protest in Islamabad against his disqualification. Approached Lahore High Court for bail. However, they were not ready to appear due to security concerns.
Khan had approached the High Court after his anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad canceled his bail for non-appearance.
Justice Tariq Saleem Shaikh had directed the PTI chief to appear in person in the case but he failed to do so despite several adjournments during the previous hearing.
During the hearing, Khan’s lawyer Siddiq asked the court that he would withdraw the plea.
But Justice Shaikh rejected the plea as he noticed that Khan had different marks on the affidavit and power of attorney.
The judge then briefly adjourned the hearing after taking note of the various signatures.
When the court convened again, Khan’s lawyer asked for more time. On which the court adjourned the hearing of the case till February 20 (today).
