LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday extended interim pre-arrest bail of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in three criminal cases.

Mr Khan appeared before the court amid strict security arrangements as police covered him with bulletproof shields.

SSP Imran Kishwar, the head of a joint investigation team (JIT), told the court that the PTI chief had not joined the investigation of the cases.

Barrister Salman Saf­d­ar, the counsel for Mr Khan, said his client would submit a written reply to the police or they could also visit Zaman Park for investigation.

ATC Judge Abher Gul Khan observed that submission of a written reply would be a better option for both sides.

LHC judge refers petition against PTI chairman to chief justice

The judge extended the bail of Mr Khan in the cases till April 13 and directed the JIT head to complete the investigation without a delay.

Earlier in the morning, the judge refused to entertain an application of Imran Khan for one-time exemption from personal appearance. He observed that such an exemption could not be granted at the stage of pre-arrest bail.

The judge noted that the suspect had not furnished his bail bonds despite the lapse of more than a week.

Mr Khan’s counsel argued that the former prime minister had security concerns.

However, the judge rem­in­ded the counsel that there would be no further relief without personal appearance of the suspect. He gave an opportunity to Mr Khan and adjourned the hearing till 11am.

Finally, the PTI chief appeared before the court and the judge extended his bail in the cases after marking his attendance.

On March 25, ATC Judge Ijaz Ahmad Buttar had allowed pre-arrest bail to Mr Khan subject to furnishing of surety bonds of Rs100,000 in each case.

The judge had directed the PTI chief to ensure his appearance at each subsequent hearing and also join the police investigation.

The PTI chairman had assured the court to comply with the orders.

Racecourse Police had registered cases against the former prime minister and other PTI leaders and workers on charges of attacking the police teams and burning official property and vehicles outside his Zaman Park residence. Besides Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, offences under various sections of Pakistan Penal Code have been included in the FIRs.

Plea against Imran

Justice Muzammil Akh­tar Shabbir of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday referred to the chief justice a petition seeking removal of Imran Khan as the PTI chairman following his disqualification in Tos­ha­khana reference.

Justice Shabbir obse­rved that his brother judge, Justice Sajid Mah­mood Sethi, had already heard a similar matter. Therefore, he referred the petition to the chief justice for fixing its hearing before Justice Sethi.

A citizen, Mohammad Jun­aid, in his petition filed throu­gh Advocate Moh­ammad Afaq pleaded that office-bearers of a political party must meet the standards provided in Articles 62 and 63 of the Cons­titution as per the provi­sions of the Repr­esentation of Peoples Act 1976 and the Political Par­ties Order, 2002.

The petition also referred to the case wherein the Supreme Court restrained former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from heading the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz following his disqu­ali­fication under Articles 62 and 63.

Published in Dawn, April 5rd, 2023