LAHORE: PTI Chairman Imran Khan was granted relief by courts on Friday as his pre-arrest bail in four cases was extended till June 13.

An anti-terrorism court extended the interim pre-arrest bail in three cases for another 11 days.

Mr Khan was nominated in cases of violence across Lahore following his arrest on May 9.

At the onset of the hearing, Judge Ijaz Ahmad Buttar told Mr Khan that the court was informed of the reasons behind him not joining the police investigation.

However, the judge reminded him that he would have to become part of the investigation at any cost. Mr Khan reiterated he still faced threats to his life.

The counsel for Mr Khan, Barrister Salman Safdar, said his client was ready to join the investigation through a video link facility. He assured the judge that his client would appear before the joint investigation team formed by the government.

The judge extended Mr Khan’s pre-arrest bail in cases of attack on Jinnah House, Askari Tower and Shadman police station till June 13.

Later, the PTI chief appeared before the Lahore High Court on the expiry of his pre-arrest bail in a case of allegedly concealing facts and evidence about the death of a PTI worker, Zille Shah.

The investigating officer of Sarwar Road police, where the case was registered, told the court that the former prime minister had not joined the investigation.

Justice Anwarul Haq Pannun direc­ted the IO to present a questionnaire to Mr Khan and record his statement.

However, the prosecution objected that the accused’s statement could not be recorded in the presence of his lawyers.

Subsequently, the judge extended Mr Khan’s bail till June 6. After the hearing, the PTI chairman appeared before the police and recorded his statement.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2023