Islamabad High Court approves extension in Imran Khan’s bail in seven cases for 10 day & in two cases for 5 days

ISLAMABAD, May 04 (SABAH): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday granted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan’s protective bail for 10 days in seven cases — ordering him to appear in the court concerned within that time period — and extended his interim bail till May 9 in two other cases.

On April 18, the IHC had extended Imran’s bail in eight cases till May 3. After he failed to appear on Wednesday, the IHC had granted him a day’s time to appear in court, warning him his bail pleas would be dismissed if he failed to do so.

Two pleas seek relief for Imran Khan in a mutiny case and another pertaining to charges of attempted murder while seven cases pertain to the March 18 violence outside the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) in Islamabad when Imran Khan had appeared for a hearing.

A two-member bench — comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Maingul Hassan Aurangzeb — presided over the hearing for seven of the nine cases while the other two were heard later on Thursday by Justice Aamer Farooq only.

PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Secretary General Asad Umar, party leaders Fawad Chaudhry, Asad Umar, Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Niyazi, Ali Muhammad Khan, Babar Awan, Imran Ismail and Malaeka Ali Bokhari were among the PTI members present inside the courtroom.

Only permitted persons were allowed inside the IHC — including Imran Khan’s 15 lawyers, 10 lawyers from the advocate general’s and attorney general’s offices and 30 members of the High Court Journalists’ Association.

At the outset of the hearing, Barrister Salman Safdar said, “Today, section 154 is being profusely used outside [the court]. We fear something huge is about to happen today. Till today, 140 cases have been registered. We have requested bail in all the cases that were in our knowledge. If there is any secret FIR, finding about it is our right,“ he added.

Safdar recalled Imran had gone to the FJC earlier to secure bail but a security situation had arisen and after that, further cases were filed for which the PTI chief had approached the courts as well.

To this, Justice Aamer replied, “We had said that we will give you protection to approach the related court. You did not even join the investigation yet. We had reiterated since the first date that we will only provide protection.”

The lawyer then argued that all the cases were made on political bases. “A heavy contingent of police is present outside,” he said.

The IHC CJ responded, “You say that there are security threats, which is why the security arrangements were done.”

Barrister Safdar then said, “They want (the government) that we appear in front of seven different investigation officers in seven different cases. We are ready to record the statements for these seven cases right now.”

Justice Aamer remarked: “Your client is present in Islamabad right now. The investigation officers are also here. He may record the statement today.

This statement will not be recorded by you submitting a paper. Follow the procedure determined for the police recording a statement,“ he asserted.

Then, the advocate general objected to the medical report submitted by Imran, arguing that it was from a “private hospital, which was unacceptable”.

At this point during the hearing, PTI’s Fawad appeared on the rostrum and complained that his party chief came to the court “in an injured condition” yet was not allowed to bring his vehicle inside the court premises.

The advocate general then said that motorcycles and cars were set alight when Imran appeared at the FJC.

Here, the court expressed its disapproval of Fawad continuing to speak even after being told not to. “We want to give you relief. If you do not want to take it, then as your wish. We will pass an order on this.” Justice Aamer remarked.

The court then reserved its verdict on Imran’s bail plea in seven cases and the judges then went back to their chambers.

Later on Thursday, hearing the other two cases against Imran Khan— on mutiny and attempted murder charges — the IHC extended Imran’s interim bail till May 9.

A single-member bench comprising the IHC CJ presided over the hearing while Barrister Safdar again appeared as Imran’s counsel and Advocate General Islamabad Barrister Jahangir Khan Jadoon was present as well.

At the outset of the hearing, Barrister Safdar asked the court to hear the cases until the “district courts shifted to a new building”.

To this, Justice Aamer responded, “Do not go to this. The lawyers say that they will be shifted after the summer holidays. You may give the material on the video link request so that we can make a decision on it.”

The IHC CJ recalled Imran had submitted a plea seeking an exemption from a court appearance and noted that a “government hospital’s report should have been attached with it”.

The advocate general then assured the court the government would provide him with access to a hospital of Imran’s own choice.

He informed the court that the petitioner says 140 cases have been filed against him. “They may tell a single case [filed] in Islamabad that is not genuine,” he added.

Barrister Safdar then reiterated his claim of ill-intentioned cases being made against his client: “Criminal cases were registered by wrongfully using state machinery.”

The court then overruled the objections raised on Imran’s petition.

Justice Aamer directed the petitioner to first join the investigation. “If you ever have to seek an exemption from attendance for medical reasons, do so. Legally, a private hospital’s medical report is not accepted,” he observed.

Addressing the court, the advocate general said, “You are giving [Imran] relief in a sweet atmosphere.” The IHC CJ then asked him, “So what else should we do?” The advocate general said to tell one case that was “false”.

At this point during the hearing, Imran’s counsel asked the court for a 12-day extension in Imran’s bail.

The IHC noted that a petition pertaining to attending court hearings via a video link was under hearing and that the court had asked the special prosecutor for legal documents related to the case.

Here, the advocate general assured the court that the state would provide “fool-proof security if the petitioner would appear for investigation”.

The court then extended Imran’s interim bail till May 9 and issued notices to the respondents in the case filed at Ramna police station. The court also directed Barrister Safdar to submit documents related to the case of attending hearings via a video link.

Ahead of Imran Khan’s visit to the federal capital, security around the court was tightened and a heavy contingent of police was deployed. Barbed wires and containers were also placed to ensure law and order in the area. The police also banned the entry of unrelated persons into the IHC.

To ensure Khan’s safety, the district administration has made strict security arrangements, while the lawyers and journalists will be allowed to enter courtroom no 1 through a special pass.