ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Thursday granted ten-day protective bail to PTI’s chairman Imran Khan in seven FIRs and instructed him to approach anti-terrorism court (ATC) during the time.
The court also extended his bail in other two cases till May 9.
A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict which was earlier reserved after hearing arguments from the lawyers in FIRs pertaining incitement against state institution and vandalizing in judicial complex Islamabad.
Former prime minister Imran Khan appeared before the court amid foolproof security arrangements in place.
Earlier, during hearing, the chief justice remarked that the court was extending the bail of the petitioner but he had to appear before the trial courts as well for relief.
Imran Khan had not even joined the investigation, he said.
The chief justice directed the PTI’s chief to record his statement to the police in same day as per the legal procedure for it.
Justice Aamer Farooq questioned whether the petitioner wanted to remove the security arrangement. Who would take responsibility if something happened untoward, he asked.
Addressing Imran Khan’s lawyers, the chief justice remarked that ‘don’t perceive the impression that someone wanted to arrest the petitioner.’
He said that the petitioner should feel protection due to the heavy security.
Imran Khan’s counsel Salman Safdar argued that the division bench asked them to directly approach the relevant courts but they could not do this due to some reasons.
His client was harassed by the police even today when he was coming to appear before the court, he said, adding that the police should be asked about any FIR which it had not told his client.
He said that Imran Khan had appeared before the court on wheelchair. He wanted to appear before ATC this day but could not do due to security issues.
The lawyer further said that the decisions of the top court was very clear about the criminal cases.
They had been asking the police for a month to record the statement of Imran Khan but no response was received.
He said that his client wanted to appear simultaneously in all cases.
Advocate General Jahangir Jadoon pleaded that a fake medical report of Imran Khan had been submitted to the court.
He said not even a single false case was registered against the accused.
He said that the government would ensure foolproof security to Imran Khan as he come to appear before the court.
The court said that it had not accepted the medical report of the petitioner and instructed Imran Khan’s lawyers to produce the report of a government hospital next time if they submit exemption application on medical grounds.
Fawad Chaudhry said that Imran Khan had appeared despite of injuries, adding that the Lahore High Court (LHC) had made full court bench to 121 cases.
The court, however, granted Imran Khan a ten-day protective bail in seven FIRs and directed him to appear before the relevant courts during the time.
Meanwhile, the court also heard the petition seeking to stop actions against Imran Khan under the registered FIRs.
The court removed the objections of registrar office and fixed the case for hearing on May 9.
The court also sought legal documents in a petition regarding the appearance of Imran Khan through the video link.