Imran Khan gets protective bail from LHC
Pak Chronicle Report
Islamabad
Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Imran Khan was awarded protective bail from Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday in a case pertaining to protest of him outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Earlier Imran Khan had finally reached the LHC on Monday, after several notices of the court, to present himself in a protective bail petition in a case of protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The LHC had granted the former prime minister the last few minutes to present himself before the court after the initial deadline of 5pm lapsed, warning lawyers that the judges would leave if the former prime minister won’t reach the courtroom in the given time, reported Geo News.
Imran Khan was directed by the court to appear before it in person by Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh for hearing his protective bail petition.
The court had observed the discrepancy in the documents last week in signatures of the PTI chief. Earlier the PTI chief was not willing to appear before the court due to security concerns.
While arguing in the court, the lawyer of Imran Khan, Advocate Khawaja Tariq Rahim, had admitted that the bail petition was not signed by the PTI chief.
Imran Khan’s lawyer had told the court that his client was on his way and was late due to security issues. The hearing of the case was adjourned again at the point when Justice Sheikh told the legal counsel that resolving security issues wasn’t his problem.
When the hearing resumed the legal counsel of Khan informed the court that there were traffic issues on the Mall Road and this was the reason as to why Imran Khan was getting late to appear before the court.
The court had wanted to issue a show cause notice to Khan and fix a date after three weeks, to which Khan’s counsel had stated that Imran Khan will appear before the court tomorrow.
“You are making fun of law,” the court observed and stated that Imran Khan is a leader, a role model and should remain so.
At this point Imran Khan’s lawyers promised to produce Imran Khan by 5pm (February 20 Monday) and then the judge stated that this was the last chance for him (for Khan) as the court had already granted him concession.
The former premier had moved the high court after an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad had cancelled his bail over non-appearance.
During the course of the hearing, Khan’s lawyer Siddique asked the court that he will be withdrawing the petition.
However, Justice Sheikh had rejected the request as he had noticed that there are different signs of Khan on the affidavit and power of attorney.
