Bushra Bibi's bail extended till Jan 16

Former first lady also exempt from appearing in court

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PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court has extended the protective bail of Bushra Imran Khan, former first lady and wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's founding chairman Imran Khan, until January 16. It has also exempted her from appearing in court.

The case was heard by a two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court, consisting of Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Waqar Ahmad.

The petitioner's lawyer Alam Khan Adeenzai, Additional Attorney General Sanaullah, NAB Special Deputy Prosecutor General Mohammad Ali, and Additional Advocate General Inamullah appeared.

The petitioner's lawyer informed the court that Bushra Imran Khan could not appear in court because she had a hearing in Islamabad for the Toshakhana case. The lawyer added that they had filed a request for exemption.

The court granted the exemption request for Bushra Imran Khan and extended her protective bail until January 16.

The AAG informed the court that two cases were under consideration today. In the first case, they had submitted the report, and the court was ready to discuss its admissibility.

The court had previously stated that the discussion should first focus on whether the case was admissible.

Special Deputy Prosecutor General NAB Mohammad Ali said the bureau had submitted a report regarding three cases against the petitioner. The bench accepted the request for exemption from Bushra Imran Khan's appearance in court, extended her protective bail until January 16, and adjourned the hearing.

Southern districts' security

The Peshawar High Court has stated that the government cannot be given a free hand when it comes to withdrawing security from judges. It directed that a report be submitted after a meeting on the security situation in the southern districts in response to a petition seeking security arrangements for courts, judges, judicial officers, and bar associations.

The hearing was subsequently adjourned.

During the proceedings, Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court, Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, remarked that the transfer of some judges from anti-terrorism courts was necessitated due to the withdrawal of their security.

He added that if security is withdrawn from judges, it must be brought to the registrar's notice. "We cannot give the government a free hand in such matters," he said, acknowledging the financial difficulties faced by the government.

The hearing on the petition, filed by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council regarding the province's security situation.