LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has granted protective bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in terrorism and corruption cases.
The former prime minister arrived at the High Court in a ‘decoy vehicle’ to seek security.
Khan, through his lawyer Salman Safdar, had filed two applications for bail in the terror cases filed against him. Justice Shahbaz Rizvi and Justice Farooq Haider heard the petitions.
During the previous hearing, the court had directed Khan to ensure his presence at 2:15 pm today (Tuesday) if he wanted the court to hear the anticipatory bail application in these cases.
The court had also directed Khan’s counsel to verify his client’s signature.
Khan, 70, is facing several legal cases, including a failed attempt to arrest him after a court issued a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear before him.
During today’s hearing, the court granted Khan anticipatory bail till March 27 (Monday).
Islamabad’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Golra Sharif police station clashed between PTI activists and police outside the Federal Judicial Complex after Khan arrived there to attend the hearing of the Tosha Khana case. Cases were registered against other PTI leaders. Previous Week.
According to the police, the protesters resorted to arson and vandalism and attacked law enforcement officials who were performing their duty to maintain law and order in the capital.
The activists destroyed the police post and broke the main gate of the judicial complex, the FIR said.
The FIR stated that 18 persons were arrested for arson, stone pelting and vandalism in the building of the judicial complex.
“About two police vehicles and seven motorcycles were burnt, and the official vehicle of the Station House Officer (SHO) was damaged,” it added.
NAB case
Khan had also applied for protective bail in two cases filed against him by NAB.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Ali Baqir Najafi heard the application.
During the hearing, Khan said that numerous court cases and ongoing litigation had consumed all his time campaigning and preventing him from giving tickets to his party’s candidates as the election date approached.
He added that about 100 FIRs have been filed against me in a month.
Later, the court granted his bail for 10 days.
Petition for contempt
During the hearing of a contempt of court plea against the police operation at his Zaman Park residence, Khan told the court that the police broke the windows of his house while his wife was alone there.
Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh heard the case.
Khan further told the court that he was in Islamabad when the police raided his house and he had footage of the police violating my family’s privacy.
The PTI chief said that he used a decoy vehicle to go to the court today for security reasons and no one knew about it. “Besides, I traveled to the court today without a motorcycle,” he added.
They said that barriers were erected at various places to prevent them from reaching the court.
Justice Saleem remarked that those who make fun of the judiciary through the media will have to face the consequences.
“If any of the parties fail to respect the judiciary, I will file contempt of court proceedings [against them],” he remarked.
The court directed the prosecutor to appear with instructions regarding the Zaman Park operation.
Justice Saleem adjourned the hearing of the contempt petition till tomorrow.
