The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday approved protective bail for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in nine cases, eight of which were registered under terrorism charges.
Imran appeared before LHC to seek protective bail in nine cases. Five of those cases are registered in Islamabad and four in Lahore. A huge number of PTI workers accompanied that party chief to LHC.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Justice Farooq Haider conducted the hearing on bail pleas filed against the cases that are lodged under terrorism sections.
The court granted Imran protective bail in the cases registered in Lahore till March 27 and till March 24 in the cases registered in Islamabad.
Earlier, Imran left Zaman Park for LHC to attend the hearing of a petition to halt a police operation to arrest him for failing to attend earlier hearings.
On Friday, the LHC directed the PTI chairman to appear before it at 5:30pm and also ordered that security be provided to the former PM.
Imran arrived at the LHC a little after 5:30pm alongside droves of PTI supporters. The LHC’s registrar office also accepted a request from Imran’s counsel Azhar Siddique seeking permission for the PTI chief’s vehicle to enter court premises.
Footage broadcast on TV showed his vehicle entering court premises while while some of his caravan was stopped at the gate. A large number of lawyers were also seen inside the court premises.
عمران خان کے لاہور ہائیکورٹ روانگی کے مناظر#چلو_چلو_عمران_کے_ساتھ pic.twitter.com/6D1pw3xBKn
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 17, 2023
However, Imran finally entered the courtroom nearly an hour after arriving at court premises. Footage broadcast on TV showed police in anti-riot gear shielding the PTI chief as he entered.
Earlier, PTI’s Asad Umar had said that an attempt on Imran’s life failed in November 2022 and “we have confirmed news that his life is still in danger”.
“Another assassination plot is being devised and as per details, this attempt will be made during Imran’s visit to court.”
