Imran Khan, former prime minister and chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has appeared in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking protective bail in seven terrorism cases filed against him. During the past week, Khan has appeared in court four times.
The PTI leader requested protective bail in seven cases that were filed against him at various police stations in the petitions submitted through attorney Salman Safdar.
These cases are connected to the violence that occurred on March 18 outside the Federal Judicial Complex, where Khan had testified in the Toshakhana case. According to the petitions, Khan would suffer “irreparable loss” if he were to be arrested.
The PTI leader’s legal team also argued that there is a genuine concern that, as the leader of the country’s biggest political party, his political rivals and opponents will be able to advance their sinister plans and political ambitions if pre-arrest bail is not granted to him.
However, the Islamabad administration has imposed Section 144 (a ban on public gatherings) in the capital and warned of arrests if the order is violated. Furthermore, the ICT has stated that only relevant individuals will be permitted entry to the court premises in accordance with court orders.
Khan’s legal battle began when the sessions court was set to indict him in the Toshakhana reference on February 28. His indictment was deferred multiple times, and the judge had subsequently issued non-bailable arrest warrants for him, instructing the police to present him in court by March 7.
The former prime minister was able to avoid being arrested and later requested the IHC to revoke the arrest warrants. He received some relief from the IHC, who also gave him a deadline of March 13 to appear in sessions court; however, he again skipped the hearing.
As a result, Khan was issued new non-bailable arrest warrants by ADSJ Iqbal, and he was instructed to appear in court by March 18 by the police.
PTI supporters and law enforcement agencies engaged in two days of pitched combat when the police attempted to arrest Khan on Tuesday at his Lahore home but were met with strong resistance. After the courts got involved on Wednesday, the fights eventually stopped.
The IHC rejected the PTI’s appeal that day and ordered the PTI leader to provide the trial court with an undertaking after the PTI also contested the most recent arrest warrants for Khan.
The sessions court stated after receiving the undertaking that the warrants could not be suspended based on an undertaking.
The ex-arrest PM’s warrants in the Toshakhana case were revoked on March 18 as a result of clashes between Islamabad Police and PTI workers outside the Judicial Complex, which led ADSJ Zafar Iqbal to permit the ex-PM to leave after marking his attendance.
Khan was required to show up in person, and the judge postponed the hearing until March 30.
The PTI leader’s appearance in court has garnered significant media attention, with his supporters and detractors keenly observing the developments.
