Efforts to 'corner PTI' will be foiled by the people, says Imran

Former prime minister granted interim bail in three cases by an ATC

LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday vowed that efforts made to corner the party or mar the PTI’s rally at Minar-e-Pakistan today would be foiled by the power of the people.

Talking to the media outside an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore after receiving bail in three cases, the former premier stated that the incumbent government was indulging in cowardly moves by 'arresting 1,600 PTI workers' to disrupt the rally.

His remarks come as the local administration of Lahore placed containers to block the routes leading to Minar-e-Pakistan as the provincial capital braced for the rally.

The administration and police have taken the step to block PTI supporters from other towns and cities in Punjab from reaching the rally venue.

Imran maintained that “one thing was very clear”, that the procession would break all previous records and that “everyone” would go towards the venue.

Addressing his workers, Imran said everyone should reach Minar-e-Pakistan as the PTI would make history today with the strength of its workers and supporters.

Read PTI moves SC against ECP’s polls delay order

The ousted premier also said that today he would give the “roadmap” of how to pull the country from the prevailing imbroglio, adding that people across the country were dying in queues to get flour.

Imran granted bail

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday granted interim pre-arrest bail to Imran till April 4 in three first information reports (FIRs) filed against him and restrained the police from arresting him.

Imran had moved the court to grant him bail in the FIRs registered at the Race Course Police station under various charges including an alleged attack on police officials, and setting state property ablaze at Zaman Park.

As proceedings commenced, the ATC judge told the petitioner’s counsel to avoid coming to court with large crowds. He warned the lawyer to come with fewer people for the next hearing.

During arguments, Imran’s counsel Barrister Salman Safdar argued that 140 cases had been registered against the former premier out of which 40 FIRs pertained to terrorism charges.

The court summoned the concerned record and directed Imran to join the investigation. The court then granted him pre-arrest bail in three FIRs till April 4.

Meanwhile, the judge also extended the pre-arrest bails of PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry, Ijaz Chaudhry, Hammad Azhar and Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed till April 4. The PTI members had already obtained bail from the court.