LAHORE: The Lahore High Court ordered Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to appear at 4:30 PM.
The PTI chief had approached the High Court for protective bail in nine cases. Five of them are listed in Islamabad and four in Lahore.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Tariq Saleem Shaikh and Justice Farooq Haider was constituted to hear the bail petition filed against the cases registered under terrorism provisions.
Meanwhile, Justice Saleem will also hear the bail applications as a single bench.
Sources had earlier told JEE News that the PTI chief will appear in the Lahore High Court after 2 pm. He added that the PTI workers were asked to gather at Zaman Park before the departure of the PTI chief so that he could walk with him.
LHC stops police from taking any action to arrest Imran Khan till 3pm
In a separate case, the Lahore High Court restrained the police from taking any action at Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence and directed the parties to find a solution and inform the court by 3 pm.
These instructions of the Lahore High Court hearing the petition filed by the senior vice president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Fawad Chaudhry against the police operation issued by the Islamabad court and the execution of the party chief’s arrest warrant. Appear during
Fawad had approached the High Court on Wednesday against the police action. The Lahore High Court in its previous hearing had stopped the operation outside the residence of PTI chief Imran Khan till today.
PTI workers clashed for nearly 24 hours with law enforcement agencies trying to get through party supporters and arrest Khan, who was ousted as prime minister last April. .
Several people – mostly policemen – were injured after law enforcement fired tear gas and party supporters threw Molotov cocktails.
The legal proceedings against Khan began after he was ousted in a parliamentary vote early last year. Since then, he has held nationwide protest rallies calling for early elections, during one of which he was shot and wounded.
Today’s hearing
Advocate General and Fawad appeared in the court during today’s hearing resumed by Inspector General Punjab (IG) Tariq Saleem Shaikh.
Appreciating Justice Saleem’s decision, Fawad said that because of you, the lives of the people of Lahore were saved.
He said that the police have assured to provide security to the PTI chief. He further said that we have withdrawn from holding a public meeting in Lahore but we will hold a meeting on Monday.
Justice Saleem remarked that the public meeting had been advised to be postponed.
The PTI leader said that Imran Khan’s bail bonds have been submitted.
The judge said that everyone has to follow the law, adding that action against wrongdoers will not stop. He said that we have installed cameras and I will not stop action against those who do anything.
IG Punjab said that he has instructed the party not to convert any area into a “no-go area”.
Justice Saleem directed Fawad to submit the application before any meeting. The court also remarked that the containers should not be placed anywhere.
Advocate General said that they need access to Zaman Park area.
On this, Fawad said that they want access to the arrest of people. “Arrest people after they are nominated,” he added.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s lawyer Khawaja Tariq Rahim assured the court of PTI chief’s appearance.
IG Punjab asked the court whether the police is allowed to go by pelting stones or Molotov cocktails. He requested access.
“We give them access,” Fawad replied.
On this, the court directed to find a solution.
The IG said that no one will be allowed to be a victim of retaliation. “We have technology and witnesses, not just pictures,” he added.
He also told the court that nothing will go wrong.
“How will there be transparency?” The court asked the IG.
On this, the IG said that everything will be done on merit. He said that if we have evidence, we will not seek permission to arrest anyone.
Justice Saleem said that an application should be filed for Imran Khan’s security.
The judge will also decide on the procedure for executing the warrant.
The court adjourned the hearing till 3 pm.
