The Chief Justice of the IHC, Aamer Farooq, directed Khan to cooperate with the investigation and granted him interim bail until May 3.
The case was registered against Khan under sections 138 (abetment of act of insubordination by soldier, sailor or airman), 500 (defamation), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The First Information Report (FIR) against Khan alleged that in his March 19 speech, which was aired on BOL News, he made several allegations against a senior officer of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and conducted a “character assassination”.
The FIR also mentioned the speeches Khan delivered on November 4 and 11, 2022, and October 28 and 29, 2022, in which he allegedly used inappropriate language for ISI and army officials.
The FIR further accused Khan of using offensive language and threatening the families of senior officials, as well as provoking extremists and putting the lives of family members of a senior officer under constant threat.
Khan appeared in court in the presence of his legal team and PTI leaders amidst tight security. The Registrar’s office had raised objections to the petition, including the availability of an appropriate alternative forum to seek a remedy, but the court overruled the administrative objection.
The Advocate General for Islamabad, Barrister Jahangir Khan Jadoon, requested the court to dispel the impression of preferential treatment to Khan, whose petition was heard on the day it was filed.
However, Justice Farooq clarified that he had granted bail to at least two other petitioners on the same day.
The court granted interim bail to Khan and postponed the hearing until May 3. The case against Khan remains ongoing, and he must cooperate with the investigation while on interim bail.
