The Islamabad High Court on Sunday accepted the interim bail of former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan in a case pertaining to hurling threat at a female session judge, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The court directed Imran Khan, who did not appear in the court, to submit the surety bond worth Rs10,000.
IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani heard the petition and accepted the pre-arrest bail plea of the former prime minister. He ordered him to appear before the concerned court till October 7.
Justice Kiyani conducted an in-chamber hearing on Imran’s petition.
It is to be noted here that it was the second time that Imran was granted interim bail without appearing before the court.
Earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan submitted a petition to the Islamabad High Court for obtaining his pre-arrest bail in the judge threat case.
PTI lawyer Dr Babar Awan filed the petition on Imran’s behalf.
In the petition, it has been stated that initially terrorism case was registered against the petitioner. But later, the IHC quashed the terror sections and subsequently the case was shifted to a sessions court.
The petitioner stated that the government had registered a false case against him for ulterior motives. He said the only reason behind registering a case against him was to deter him from launching a peaceful movement against the ‘corruption mafia’.
Another petition was also submitted in the court on Sunday seeking exemption from conducting biometric by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief.
Lawyer Babar Awan said that the entire PML-N was becoming impatient to arrest Imran Khan.
IHC written order
The court has issued written order of its judgement announced by Justice Kiyani.
According to the written order, the court accepts Imran’s protective bail till Oct 7 and directs him to appear before the concerned court by that date as its order will expire on Oct 7.
The court also accepts Imran’s request seeking exemption from court appearance.
The order further says that according to the lawyer, the magistrate issued warrants against Imran without notice, and all sections which have been applied to the case are bailable.
The lawyer says that police want to arrest Imran in such circumstances. He says the police have surrounded the residence of Imran Khan and that’s why the PTI chief could not appear before the court, the written order concludes.
Court opens on Sunday
The Islamabad High Court was opened on holiday today (Sunday) in anticipation of filing a petition by PTI Chairman Imran Khan against his arrest warrants.
The court was anticipating that the former prime minister would resort to it in order to get his arrest warrants cancelled and obtain pre-arrest bail.
The IHC staff reached the court in the morning. The petition branch assistant registrar Asad Khan was also present in the office.
On Saturday, a rumour was doing round on social media that a police force was sent to Banigala to arrest Imran after his bailable arrest warrants were issued by a court in connection with his controversial remarks against Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Zeba Chaudhry and other officials at an August 20 public rally in Islamabad.
Senior Civil Judge Rana Mujahid Rahim issued an arrest warrant for PTI Chief Imran Khan on Sept 30 when the latter failed to attend the court hearing.
However, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah during an interview to a private TV channel on Saturday said that Imran’s arrest warrant was a routine matter and it was bailable. He said there was no question of arrest.
The spokesperson for the Islamabad Police also said that the arrest warrant was a legal process as Imran did not appear in the court on the previous occasion.
He said to ensure his appearance in the court, the arrest warrants were issued. He said after an order from the IHC, the section of terrorism from the case was dropped.
The spokesperson said Imran had not got his bail in this case yet and if he did not appear before the court, he could be arrested.
Reporter Ehtisham Kiyani