Imran gets bail in terror, sedition cases

IHC asks PTI chief to cooperate with investigators

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday granted a 10-day protective bail to former prime minister Imran Khan in seven different terror cases, asking him to approach an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in the meanwhile.

The court also granted the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman pre-arrest bails--till May 9–in two cases related to sedition and attempted murder. It ordered the former premier to cooperate with the police in their investigation.

“Don’t be afraid of this security arrangement. Rather feel secure. Don’t give the impression that someone wants to arrest you,” IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq who was leading a division bench told Imran Khan who appeared in the court in a wheelchair.

A day earlier, the bench had given one last chance to Imran to appear in the court in person to get pre-arrest bail, noting that it could not bend rules for the PTI chief just because he is a “privileged” person.

Addressing the former premier, Justice Farooq asked why he was not joining the probe.

Imran’s counsel Barrister Salman Safdar told the bench that the police wanted Imran to appear before seven different investigation officers (IOs) probing the seven terror cases.

“We are ready to give our testimony right now. All the IOs are also present here [in the courtroom]. Why didn't they get our [Imran’s] statement today?” he proposed.

The CJ noted that Imran could not give his testimony like this on a piece of paper. “Follow the procedure that is in place for giving testimony to police,” he noted.

The bench once again told Imran’s counsel to submit reports of a government hospital if they want to get an exemption from personal appearance in court on medical grounds. A day earlier, the court had noted that a pre-arrest bail could only be awarded if the accused appeared in a court in person.

Read PTI workers, leader get bails

On Wednesday Imran’s counsel asked the court to exempt Imran from appearing in the court in view of swelling on his leg that was injured in November last year during an assassination attempt.

The court premises was overcrowded with personnel of law enforcing agencies and when Imran’s counsel raised objection to the presence of so many security officials, the CJ said the security arrangements had been made as “you often claim that the life of Imran Khan is in danger.”

“Who will be held responsible if we decrease the number of security personnel and an incident happens [to Imran Khan]?” He asked.

“Don’t be afraid of this security arrangement. Rather feel secure. Don’t give the impression that someone wants to arrest you,” he added.

Taking the rostrum, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry complained that Imran Khan was wounded but the authorities did not allow his car to enter the court premises.

Islamabad Advocate General Barrister Jahangir Jadoon said the PTI workers had vandalized inside the court premises at an earlier hearing.

Later the judges left the courtroom when Fawad Chudhry refused to stop his speech despite the order of the bench. “We want to give you relief but you don’t seem to be interested in it,” noted one of the judges before leaving the courtroom.

The bench later issued the order from chambers.