ISLAMABAD: In a major relief to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran, the Islamabad High Court granted interim bail in seven different cases against him.
A bench headed by Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb is hearing the case.
The PTI chief had reached the Islamabad High Court from Lahore today to seek bail before his arrest in various cases registered against him in the federal capital.
عمران خان کی گاڑی اسلام آباد ہائیکورٹ کے دروازے پر موجود۔
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 27, 2023
pic.twitter.com/aDGCCffxY5
The PTI chief is seeking bail in seven cases filed against him after the judicial complex was vandalized during his last visit to the federal capital.
Several cases have been registered against the former prime minister in Islamabad’s Ramna, CTD and Golra police stations.
The hearing
At the beginning of the hearing, Imran Khan’s lawyer, Barrister Salman Safdar, appeared in the court and argued that the objection regarding biometric authentication should not be imposed on people above 60 years of age.
On which Justice Farooq remarked that biometric verification has now become very easy.
The lawyer stated that he had obtained the PTI chief’s security bail from the Lahore High Court (LHC) after which he reached the judicial complex but was not allowed to proceed further.
He further said that on that day more FIRs were registered against Imran Khan.
The IHC Chief Justice then asked the lawyer to explain why he bypassed the forum to approach the IHC.
He asked why you did not go to the trial court first when you had to go there.
On this, the lawyer took a stand that he will present the decisions of the Supreme Court in this regard.
After that, Khan moved towards the rostrum, but Chief Justice Farooq directed him to sit down.
Responding to the arguments of Khan’s counsel, the justice said the security threats to the former prime minister were real as he had been attacked once.
Justice Hasan remarked that the court had asked the Chief Election Commissioner several times to provide security to Khan.
On this, Islamabad Advocate General Jahangir Jadoon took a stand that the trial court has been shifted from F8 Kachhari Court to the Judicial Complex.
“It is Imran Khan’s responsibility to ensure a peaceful environment. He didn’t even get out of the car and people burnt the cars,” he said.
On this, Justice Farooq remarked that if the administration gave an irresponsible statement, what would the petitioner do.
Justice remarked that “If you [the administration] do not provide it, they [PTI] will manage their own security. Two Prime Ministers of Pakistan were assassinated and one was attacked”.
After that, the court granted interim bail to Khan, after which the PTI chairman left the High Court.
Plea filed
As the PTI chief headed towards Islamabad, his lawyers filed an application in the IHC for anticipatory bail in several cases registered in various police stations of the federal capital.
The petition requested the court to restrain the federal government from arresting the PTI chief in these cases, adding that the cases were filed for political vendetta.
However, the court registrar’s office has attached objections to the petitions as the petition does not contain the PTI chief’s biometrics.
“How can an application be filed in the High Court [before it is filed] in a trial court,” asked the Registrar’s Office.
Later, when the PTI chief reached the premises, his biometrics was taken. Thereafter the biometric objection was removed and the application was taken up for hearing along with other objections.
Khan laments lack of security
When JEE News asked the PTI chief if he was satisfied with the security arrangements, Khan replied: “There is no security, this is our security.”
When asked about the political talks, the PTI chief refused to talk about it.
SSP to deal with security arrangements
Meanwhile, Islamabad Police tweeted that an important meeting chaired by the Inspector General was held to discuss security arrangements for Imran Khan’s expected court appearance.
پی ٹی آئی کے جانب سے رابطہ کاری عامر کیانی کے سپرد کیگئی ہے۔
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) March 26, 2023
ملک جمیل ظفر پولیس اور پی ٹی آئی کے درمیان عامر کیانی کے توسط سے رابطہ کاری کے فرائض سر انجام دیں گے۔
مرکزی کنٹرول روم سیف سٹی ہیڈ کوارٹر
میں قائم کردیا گیا ہے ۔
عامر کیانی کی طرف سے تعاون کی یقین دہانی کروائی گئی۔⏬
Senior officers including Operations DIG and SSP attended the meeting despite being injured. It was decided in the meeting that the field supervision of the security arrangements will be done by SSP Yasir Afridi.
On behalf of PTI, Aamir Kayani has been given the responsibility of coordination while Malik Jameel Zafar will be the head of coordination between police and PTI through Kayani.
Islamabad Police further informed that a central control room has been set up at the Safe City headquarters.
Meanwhile, Section 144 is in force in Islamabad and violators will be arrested.
Police tweeted that in light of court orders, only concerned persons will be allowed to enter the court premises.
Earlier, the spokesperson of Islamabad Police said that there is no information regarding Imran Khan’s possible court appearance. However, he said that Islamabad Police will make security arrangements in the light of court orders.
