Ruling in a sedition case against the former prime minister, the Islamabad High Court told him to attend the trial court regularly.
By Naveed Naqvi
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Friday granted Former Prime Minister Imran Khan protective bail until May 3, restraining the authorities from arresting him, but ordered him to personally appear in the trial court to allow smooth prosecution of the case.
Chairman of his own Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the former cricket superstar is under trial in an Islamabad court for questioning in a sedition case concerning allegedly inflammatory remarks made by Khan against government officials. The case was filed by a city magistrate at Islamabad’s Ramna police station on April 7.
The registrar office of the Islamabad High Court objected to Khan’s bail plea, questioning how he could move the high court for bail instead of approaching the trial court.
The court overruled the objection, and admitted the plea for immediate hearing. It then accepted the plea, granting the former prime minister protective bail until May 3.
Strict security measures were in place at the Islamabad High Court for Khan’s appearance. A bomb disposal squad cleared the courtroom before his appearance.
The PTI supremo drove along with a motorcade compised largely of brawny SUVs from his Zaman Park, Lahore abode to Islamabad via the M2 motorway. However, only his personal car was allowed to enter the court premises, and that too after the court gave its nod to an express request to that effect by Khan’s lawyers.
Imran Khan’s lawyers submitted an application to the registrar of the Islamabad High Court in which it was said that Imran Khan is a former prime minister, there are threats to his life, his vehicle should be allowed to enter the court premises.
IHC Chief Justice Amir Farooq heard Imran Khan’s bail application. Lawyers Barrister Salman Safdar and Faisal Chaudhary appeared on behalf of Imran Khan.
Chairman PTI’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhary gave arguments on the application. During the hearing, the court also overruled the objections filed by the Registrar’s Office to Imran Khan’s application.
The court granted Imran Khan protective bail till May 3 and ordered him to submit a surety bond of PKR 100,000. The court also ordered him to attend every hearing of the trial court in person.
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