PAKISTAN: IMRAN KHAN/COURT

Headline

Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan gets protective bail in seven cases

Intro

Pakistan’s ex PM Imran Khan gets bail in seven cases related to Islamabad court violence

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 STORY:  Islamabad High Court  (IHC)  on Tuesday (March 27) granted interim bail to former Pakistani PM Imran Khan in seven cases registered against him following a police crackdown on his supporters outside the judicial complex on March 18.
“The court has now passed an order, and has ordered not to arrest Imran Khan sahib, and the appropriate order will be passed in short while in this regard,” Faisal Chaudhry, one of Khan’s lawyers told media after the hearing.
Khan had requested protective bail in the cases registered against him in various police stations across the capital after he appeared in the Judicial Complex in the Toshakhana (foreign state gifts) case.

Khan travelled from Lahore to Islamabad by road.B ecause of security threats, Khan’s vehicle was allowed to enter the premises of the IHC.
However, since Section 144 (ban on public gatherings) had been imposed in the capital, only relevant persons were allowed to enter the court premises.
Khan’s plea to the court stated, “The petitioner will suffer irreparable loss in case he is arrested for an offence, which he has not committed. Furthermore, being head of the single largest political party, there is an apprehension that his political adversaries and opponents would be able to further their nefarious designs and political ambitions if pre-arrest bail is not granted to the petitioner.”

Khan’s lawyer requested the court to grant him protective bail in all seven cases. He also informed the court that despite severe security concerns,  security personnel around Khan had been withdrawn by the government.

Justice Farooq remarked that the government had "done wrong by removing the former premier's security", and sought answers for why a former prime minister's security was withdrawn.

 

He also passed an order on the matter and granted Khan interim bail in seven cases till April 6.

 

Meanwhile, on Tuesday the Islamabad administration imposed Section 144 (ban on public gatherings) in the capital and warned that anyone violating the order would be arrested.