The Lahore High Court (LHC) has granted a protective bail to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran till March 3 in a case pertaining to a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Earlier, the LHC had resumed the hearing for Imran’s protective bail plea when PTI chairman reached the LHC. Imran Khan in-person appeared before the court after which the court approved his protective bail in the case.
Imran Khan arrived the court late as thousands of the PTI workers also came along with their party chief in a big caravan.
When Imran reached the court, the honourable LHC judge Justice Ali Baqar Najafi left his chamber to say prayers. However, the hearing resumed after some time.
The police had restrained the PTI workers, who were in thousands, outside the premises of the LHC. There was great ruckus and slight scuffle also took place between the police personnel and the party’s activists.
However, the workers had warmly welcome their beloved leader at the gate of the LHC gate and raised slogans in favour of Imran Khan.
Earlier, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi gave Imran the last chance to appear before the court till 5pm in a case pertaining to a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Last week, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh directed Imran’s counsel to present the former prime minister in court on Monday (today) at 2:00pm.
The former prime minister was expected to appear before the LHC to attend the hearing of the protective bail plea filed by him but his lawyers told the high court that The Mall Road was clogged and he could be brought to court only of the passage was clear.
Justice Sheikh in his remarks asked Azhar Siddique’s advocate to ensure the presence of his client in the court. “We are giving you time until 5pm to present Imran Khan before the court.”
Siddique’s plea to adjourn the case hearing until tomorrow was rejected by the LHC. Justice Sheikh remarked Azhar Siddique can be served with a contempt notice. Khan’s counsels were given until 5pm to present him before the LHC.
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However, strict security measures were taken at the high court to avoid any untoward situation as Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh suspended hearing of all other cases. Imran Khan’s private security team also visited the LHC.
LHC returns protective bail plea on Imran’s request
The Lahore High Court has also disposed of another petition of protective bail of PTI Chief Imran Khan in the banking case on his request.
Imran apologised to the court that this protective bail petition was filed without my knowledge.
LHC judge Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh returned Imran Khan’s plea for protective bail on Imran request.
Imran told the court as soon as he came to know about the petition, he instructed the lawyer to withdraw this petition. On which, the court asked him to be careful in future.
It is pertinent to mention here that the petition, which carried different signatures of Imran on different pages, was filed with the LHC for protective bail of Imran Khan in a banking case.
