ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday extended the bail of former prime minister Imran Khan in his absence till May 31 but warned his counsel for no further leniency in the future.

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb resumed the hearing on the petition seeking pre-arrest bail for Mr Khan in the case registered against him for organising a rally in Islamabad, in violation of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The court had granted Mr Khan interim bail in this case last week.

Mr Khan was required to be present in the courtroom; however, his counsel Barrister Gohar Ali Khan filed an application seeking exemption from personal appearance.

Justice Aurangzeb asks IO to visit ex-PM’s residence or send him a questionnaire

The state’s counsel opposed the application, saying that Mr Khan had disregarded the court’s order by not participating in the investigation so far.

Justice Aurangzeb noted that as the PTI chief was facing over 100 cases, it would be humanly impossible for him to personally appear before every investigation officer to record a statement.

He suggested that the investigation officer might visit Mr Khan’s residence or send him a questionnaire.

Detention order set aside

The same court also set aside the detention order issued by the district magistrate against PTI leaders Dr Shireen Mazari and Senator Falak Naz.

The court was informed that both leaders were taken into custody by the Tarnol Police Station after the judge had suspended the detention order a day earlier.

However, the judicial magistrate Mohammad Shabbir Bhatti discharged both leaders in the aforementioned case before the hearing commenced.

Justice Aurangzeb also restrained the police from arresting them in other cases.

The court also declared the detention of Maleeka Bukhari and Ali Mohammad Khan illegal.

Justice Aurangzeb asked the PTI lawyers to argue on the petitions seeking release of Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Mussarat Jamshed Cheema on May 18, while the court will hear the cases of Asad Umar, Saifullah Niazi and Ejaz Chaudhry on May 19.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2023