The court allowed the former prime minister until tomorrow to show up, failing which his interim bail in the sedition case would be cancelled.
By Naveed Naqvi
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court Wednesday accepted former prime minister Imran Khan’s request for exemption from personal appearance one more time, but ordered him to appear in person tomorrow, failing which his interim bail would be vacated.
The chairman of his own Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, the firebrand leader was due to appear in court in connection with his own petition concerning a case of incitement to mutiny filed against him by the Islamabad City Magistrate.
The court at earlier hearing had granted him interim bail, but his failure to appear in person today irked the court, which said it would vacate the interim bail if the former prime minister fails to appear tomorrow.
Earlier, the court expressed its indignation over Imran Khan’s failure to appear in person, as required by the court, and warned to vacate his interim bail if he failed to show up during court hours.
At the outset of hearing, Chief Justice Amir Farooq inquired where the petitioner was? Khan’s counsel Naeem Haider Panjotha said he could not come and therefore filed an exemption application.
The Chief Justice was askance as to where the exemption application was, to which the lawyer said it had just been filed. The Chief Justice voiced his displeasure and warned that if the petitioner does not appear during the court hours, his interim bail will be dismissed.
The court then adjourned the until the appearance of Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and former Prime Minister Imran Khan during court hours.
Later on, however, apparently following suasion by Khan’s lawyers, the court allowed Khan until tomorrow to appear in person. In their remarks, Justice Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb said if Khan fails to show up tomorrow, his interim bail in the sedition case will be vacated.
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