IHC grants 10-day protective bail to Imran in Zille Shah case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday granted 10-day protective bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in the Zille Shah case.

Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri barred the police from arresting the ousted premier and directed him to appear in the relevant court in Lahore after a period of 10 days.

IHC granted bail against a surety bond of Rs50,000 till May 22.

"Who will control the people if I am imprisoned? If I remain outside, I will be able to control the people," said Imran in an informal chat with the media. 

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Earlier this month, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore extended the pre-arrest bails of PTI leaders, including chairman Imran Khan and senior leader Fawad Chaudhry, until May 16.

The bails were granted in connection with different FIRs registered against them for allegedly attacking police officials, creating law and order, panic, setting ablaze state properties at Zaman Park, and Imran Khan's alleged involvement in the Zille Shah murder case.

Cases against the PTI leaders were registered after a clash between police and PTI workers outside Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore on April 5. The police had accused the PTI workers of attacking them and damaging public and private property.

The PTI, on the other hand, had denied the allegations and accused the police of using excessive force against peaceful protesters. The party had also demanded an independent inquiry into the incident.