IHC extends interim bails of Imran Khan in eight cases till April 18

ISLAMABAD, April 6 (SABAH): Islamabad High Court (IHC) has extended interim bails of former prime minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan in eight cases lodged against him, including the judicial complex riot case till April 18.

A two-member bench headed by the IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and comprising Justice Mianugul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the bail pleas filed for interim bails in eight cases on Thursday.

During the hearing, former prime minister’s request for exemption from attendance was approved. Islamabad High Court accepted PTI chief Imran Khan’s exemption plea of one day appearance before the court.

The Advocate General Islamabad Barrister Jehangir Khan Jadoon asked the court if Imran Khan did not appear before the court at the next hearing how will the court proceed then. The Chief Justice Islamabad High Court remarked that the petitioner has to appear before the court to file the bail petition but if he did not appear before the court then action will be taken against him as per the law. The court does not want to confine him by mentioning this in the order, he added.

The IHC Chief Justice asked if the security is beefed up after the analysis of the threat by the Assessment Committee. He said that the IG Islamabad gave him a bulletproof vehicle but he refused. However, he maintained that a notification regarding PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s full proof security was submitted in the court but security was not given to him as a former prime minister and it will be considered as taking back his security.

The Additional Attorney General informed the court that IG has the power to increase security so the PTI chief should inform the police before he comes to Islamabad.

Justice Aamer Farooq also stated that legal action will be taken if Imran Khan does not appear for the next hearing. While directing him to be part of the investigation and appear before the court in every hearing, the court had granted the former prime minister interim bail.