ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday extended the pre-arrest interim bail of former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan in eight cases till May 3.

An IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb also exempted Mr Khan from personal appearance on Tuesday.

Advocate Faisal Fareed Chaudhry, representing the PTI chief, informed the court that Mr Khan was ready to appear before the bench, but could not do so as was required to attend a hearing before the Lahore High Court. He said the LHC was hearing a case relating to registration of 121 FIRs against the PTI chief.

The counsel requested the court to extend the interim bail till the first week of May.

At this, Justice Farooq said the court had already extended extraordinary relief to the PTI chairman, adding that the Anti-Terrorism Court is a relevant forum to confirm the bail.

Advocate General for Islamabad Barrister Jahangir Khan Jadoon said he had already informed the court that Imran Khan would not appear on April 18. He said the government had made all the arrangements for his security and submitted the standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised for the former premier’s security.

The judicial magistrate of Islamabad on Tuesday issued the bailable arrest warrants for PTI chief Imran Khan for his absence in a case registered against him for hurling threats at a female additional district and sessions judge.

The court directed him to submit Rs20,000 as surety for the bail bond.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2023