Imran granted pre-arrest bails in three FIRs

ATC warns Imran’s lawyer to come with less people next time

LAHORE:

The anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has granted pre-arrest bails to former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan till April 4 in three FIRs, restraining the police from arresting him.

The PTI chief had filed petitions for pre-arrest bails in three FIRs registered with the Race Course police station under different charges, including alleged attack on police officials and setting ablaze state properties in the Zaman Park area.

As the proceedings commenced, the ATC judge told Imran’s counsel that he would not hear the case if they came with a large crowd.

The lawyer apprised the court that the crowd was “much less in size” than the one that had accompanied the PTI chairman to the Lahore High Court (LHC).

“The problem is not that the crowd is small or huge,” the judge remarked, waring the counsel to come with less people next time.

During the arguments, Imran’s counsel Barrister Salman Safdar argued that 140 cases had been registered against his client of which 40 FIRs were about anti-terrorism charges.

However, the court summoned the relevant record, directing the PTI chief to join the investigation.

Later, the court granted Imran pre-arrest bails in three FIRs till April 4.

Meanwhile, the judge also extended the pre-arrest bails of PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry, Senator Ijaz Chaudhry, Hammad Azhar and Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed till April 4.

On Friday, a division bench of the LHC headed by Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh had extended the period of protective bails of the PTI chairman in five FIRs till March 27.

The cases were registered against the former premier under terrorism charges, allegedly for attacking courts and law enforcers as well as resorting to vandalism.

He was also charged with stopping a court from functioning in Islamabad.

The bench was hearing Imran’s plea seeking extension in time of the protective bails in the five FIRs.

The LHC had already granted him protective bails in the same cases.

Justice Sheikh made it clear that the LHC was extending the time only on the grounds that the petitioner, Imran, would face the consequences if his pleas were not pending in an Islamabad court.
The bench warned the PTI chief that contempt proceedings might be initiated against him if he violated the commitment.