The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday granted PTI Chairman Imran Khan protective bail in two terrorism cases registered against him in Islamabad following last week’s clashes at the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC). The first information reports (FIRs) registered at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and the Golra police stations in the capital accused the PTI chief and party workers of being involved in attacking police and creating unrest outside the FJC in Islamabad during the hearing of the Toshakhana case on March 18.

A two-judge LHC bench comprising Justice Shehbaz Rizvi and Justice Farooq Haider granted Imran protective bail in the terrorism cases till March 27. Imran arrived at the LHC at around 1pm on Tuesday. The PTI chairman was accompanied by aide Fawad Chaudhry, party lawyers and private security guards.

Imran has renewed claims that his life is in danger, saying that the incumbent rulers wanted to kill him and a trap was laid at the Islamabad Judicial Complex on the occasion of the Toshakhana hearing on Saturday. The PTI chief survived an assassination attempt last year and had blamed senior figures in the government and military for it.

Immediately after arriving in court, Imran first appeared before Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh as the court took up PTI’s contempt petition against the police operation at his Zaman Park residence on March 18. As the hearing commenced, Justice Sheikh inquired about the guards present in court along with Imran to which Fawad replied that they were a part of Imran’s personal security.

However, the judge instructed the guards to leave the courtroom, saying that police officers were already present for security. At one point during the hearing, Imran appeared at the rostrum and recalled the events of March 18. He said that his wife was alone at home that day, yet the police broke down the windows of his house.

“I reached the Islamabad Toll Plaza and they attacked my house. My wife is a ba parda [modest] woman… her voice is recorded in the camera,” the PTI chief stated. “Obstructions were set up in multiple places only so that I could not reach court,” he told the court. At that, the court instructed the government lawyer to seek directions regarding the Zaman Park operation and appear in court. “I will initiate contempt proceedings against all those who are sitting in the media and making a joke of the judiciary,” Justice Sheikh said.

He also warned that action would be taken if the respondents in the case did not respect the court. “We have to work as per the law, we only listen to what the law says,” the judge added. Earlier, the police presented a report in court, which said that six cases were lodged against Imran in Punjab. Three of these FIRs were registered at Lahore’s Race Course police station, while others were filed at Sarwar Road policea station, Rawalpindi’s New Airport police station and Faisalabad’s Madina Town police station.

However, Justice Sheikh instructed the police to submit details of cases against Imran registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIR) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as well. The judge also inquired about the dates of the FIRs and if the report included all the latest complaints as well, saying that “FIRs are being lodged every day”. The police replied that the report included all the FIRs lodged until yesterday.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP