LHC grants protective bail to Imran Khan in two terror cases

The Lahore High Court has granted protective bail to former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan till March 27 in two terrorism cases registered against him in Islamabad, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

The PTI chairman filed two petitions seeking protective bail in two terrorism cases registered against him at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and the Golra police stations in Islamabad following last week’s clashes at the Federal Judicial Complex.

The petitions were filed by his lawyer Salman Safdar. 

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Shahbaz Rizvi and Justice Farooq Haider heard the petitions.

The court granted Imran protective bail in these two cases till March 27.  

Imran Khan reached the Lahore High Court near 1pm. He was accompanied by Fawad Chaudhry and his private security guards. 

The Islamabad CTD and the Golra Sharif police station filed cases against Imran and several other PTI leaders following clashes between the PTI workers and the police outside the Judicial Complex where the PTI chief arrived on March 18 to attend the hearing of Toshakhana case.

According to the FIRs, the PTI workers resorted to arson and vandalism and attacked the law personnel who were performing their duty to maintain law and order in the capital.

The FIRs further stated that the workers destroyed a police check post and broke the main gate of the judicial complex.

Police rounded up as many as 18 people for arson, pelting stones, and vandalising the judicial complex's building. 

Police claimed that about two of their vehicles and seven motorcycles were burned, and an official vehicle of the station house officer was damaged.

Contempt plea against police 

During the hearing of a contempt petition against police operation at Zaman Park on March 18, the PTI chief told the court that the police broke down the window panes of his house when his wife was alone at home as he left for Islamabad to attend the court hearing. 

The petition was heard by Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh. 

At the outset of the hearing, the court objected to the presence of Imran’s guards in the court and ordered them to leave, saying that the police officers were already present in the court for security.

During hearing, Imran also came to the rostrum and told the court that hurdles were created at multiple places so that he could not reach the Judicial Complex. 

He further told the court that today he reached the LHC in a vehicle which was not known to anyone. He said he secretly reached there. He lamented that there was no rule of law. 

On this, Justice Sheikh ordered the government lawyer to seek details of Zaman Park operation and appear before the court. 

The judge remarked that he would start contempt proceedings against all those who were making a mockery of the judiciary through media. 

He also warned the respondents of an action if they failed to appear before the court. 

With this, the judge adjourned the case till tomorrow. 

Petition against ECP notice 

Meanwhile, a five-judge larger SC bench headed by Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan also heard a petition challenging the notice of the Election Commission of Pakistan directing to remove Imran Khan as the PTI head. 

The bench adjourned the hearing till indefinite time without holding any proceeding. 

Court seeks detail of cases against Imran 

Separately, a single bench comprising Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh heard a petition filed by Imran Khan seeking details of cases registered against him at different police stations. 

The PTI chief reached the courtroom to attend the hearing. 

The court ordered to provide all details of cases against the PTI chief till tomorrow and adjourned the hearing. 

چئیرمین تحریک انصاف عمران خان لاہور ہائی کورٹ میں جسٹس سلیم شیخ کے کورٹ روم میں پہنچ چکے ہیں

آج اہم کیسز کی سماعت ہے pic.twitter.com/hrfTCW3iCi

— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 21, 2023

Police submit cases' report  

Earlier, the police submitted a report to the court giving details of the cases against Imran. 

According to the report, six cases were registered against the PTI chief. In one case, he was proven innocent, and one case was quashed.

There were four cases against Imran in Punjab. Three FIRs were registered against him at the Race Course police station while others were filed at Sarwar Road police station, Rawalpindi’s New Airport police station and Faisalabad’s Madina Town police station.

Justice Sheikh instructed the police to submit details of cases against Imran registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIR) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as well.

The report said that Imran was discharged in the FIRs registered against him at the Rawalpindi New Airport and Madina Town, Faisalabad police stations.

Imran granted protective bail in two NAB cases till March 31 

A two-judge LHC bench returned the petitions filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan seeking protective bail in two NAB cases.

Returning the petitions, the judges remarked that a bench was already hearing the NAB case. “It’s appropriate if that bench hears these petitions,” they added.

Then the PTI chief appeared before the court of Justice Ali Baqir Najafi who heard his petitions. 

Imran’s lawyer told the court that his client wanted to appear before the Islamabad court, that’s why he needed protective bail. 

Imran came to the rostrum and said that elections were going to be held on April 30. “But all my electioneering starts from home and ends in courts. I’m not finding time even to award party tickets to the candidates,” he said. 

He rued that during last 50 years, there had not been even a single case registered against him, but in last six months, 96 cases were registered against him.

After hearing him, the judge granted him protective bail in two NAB cases till March 31. 

Reporter Malik Ashraf