In instances related to the may 9 unrest, including the destruction of Jinnah House and Askari Tower, the bail of PTI Chairman Imran Khan was renewed on Friday by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore.
As a result of the National Accountability Bureau’s arrest of the PTI leader in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9, at least eight persons were murdered and as many as 290 were wounded. The demonstrators had also broken down a fence at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and assaulted the mansion of the corps commander in Lahore, commonly known as Jinnah House.
Over 1,900 angry demonstrators were arrested after engaging in gun fights with police. In addition, charges were filed against Imran and members of his party.
The former prime minister was granted bail in all three cases by Judge Ijaz Ahmad Buttar on May 19, with the condition that he post bail bonds in the amount of Rs100,000 in each instance till June 2.
The judge called Imran to the podium to begin today’s session. “I heard the reasons why you are not participating in the investigation… Now, though, he emphasised, you must participate in the inquiry.
Imran testified before the court that he had received death threats.
The PTI leader’s attorney, Salman Safdar, responded by saying that Imran was willing to cooperate with the investigation, but that he preferred that all of the cases be scheduled for the same day. After promising the court, “I will complete the arguments in all three cases,” he did just that.
Safdar also asked that all hearings be scheduled on June 20 and that Imran will participate in the investigation on that day.
After then, Judge Buttar released Imran and gave him more time to pay his bond.
Court of Appeals upholds bail for Imran in Zille Shah murder case
Following his appearance before the ATC, the PTI president went on to the Lahore High Court (LHC) for the hearing on his bail plea in a case related to the cover-up of facts and evidence surrounding the roadside death of PTI worker Zille Shah.
Tight security greeted Imran as he entered the courtroom. A video uploaded to PTI’s official Twitter account shows a large group of security guards surrounding his car as he left the LHC.
As the ex-prime minister cooperated with the investigation and gave a statement to the police, Justice Anwarul Haq Pannun heard the case and granted him bail till June 6.
The LHC had already granted Imran bail until the outcome of the case till June 2.
At the short hearing, the court inquired of the IO as to whether or not Imran had been included in the murder inquiry, to which the IO stated that the PTI leader had not yet entered the probe.
After the hearing, the judge instructed the IO to record Imran’s statement. “Ask him whatever questions you want to,” Justice Pannun instructed.
The government’s attorney argued that the statement could not be recorded with the petitioner’s attorneys present.
The judge questioned Imran, “Will you answer the questions they ask you?” The leader of PTI said, “Yes, I am absolutely ready.”
The judge agreed, and Imran’s bail was eventually extended until June 6.
The former prime minister later joined the investigation and gave a taped statement to the police after the hearing.
