Imran Khan Shows Up In Court After A Commotion And Is Granted Bail
February 21, 2023 / By Zunair Tahir / Pakistan News
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday granted interim protective bail to PTI Chairman Imran Khan until March 3 in a case pertaining to a ‘attack’ on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) building as he finally appeared before a two-member bench following a day-long drama and numerous court sessions.
The PTI chairman left his home in Zaman Park and took at least an hour to get to LHC after the high court gave him until 5 o’clock in the afternoon to appear before the bench. Imran Khan arrived to the high court accompanied by hundreds of fans who had assembled at the party’s request. The police had put in place strong security measures.
Judge Ali Baqar Najafi, who presided over the division bench, had to instruct the SP Security to accompany Mr. Khan to the courtroom since he remained to remain inside his car on the LHC grounds. According to the PTI attorneys, the petitioner was unable to exit his parked car within the LHC because of the large throng and security issues. At about 7:30 p.m., Mr. Khan then entered the courtroom.
In the FIR filed at Islamabad’s police station Sangjanee under sections 341, 427, 353, 186, 147, 149, 188, and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code as read with section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, protective bail was requested in the plea before the division bench.
Imran Khan was offered many chances to come before the bench on February 16, but he chose not to do so. As a result, the petition was re-filed on Monday. According to the PTI attorneys, the petitioner was unable to exit his parked car within the LHC because of the large throng and security issues. At about 7:30 p.m., Mr. Khan then entered the courtroom.
The hearing took place in a full courtroom. While the physicians had recommended him to rest until his final X-ray report, which would be conducted in two weeks, Imran Khan told the judges that his leg injury had improved. The PTI director said that he spent an hour inside the car waiting to appear in court. He declared in front of the court, “I totally respect the courts, since my party’s name is likewise founded on justice.
The petitioner had been wrongly accused of aiding the crime, according to attorneys Azhar Siddique and Khwaja Tariq Rahim who spoke on behalf of the PTI chairman. They claimed that Mr. Khan was hurt in an assault and was unable to appear at later trial court proceedings, leading to the dismissal of the bail due to non-prosecution.
The administration was not pleased at all with how the Lahore High Court treated Mr. Khan since according to government ministers, Mr. Khan’s relief was not extended to everyone.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared during a speech to the National Assembly that “He is an impostor. He caused a commotion in court today by wheeling himself in with private protection present.
The minister gave just a vague indication that a significant event will occur the day after tomorrow. Just hold out until Wednesday, the minister said. Similar criticism was levelled at Imran Khan by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb for “making a scene” prior to his court appearance.
She said that Mr. Khan incited his supporters to storm the court in case he was detained. She questioned, “Why the relief being granted to him (Imran) is not available to the other accused.
They saw today’s humiliation of the Constitution, the law, and the court system on their TV screens, she said.
She said Imran’s supporters flocked to the LHC building at his command, although he later denied making such a call.
Imran Khan is sought in several court matters, but she emphasized that he has to be detained right away for inciting an attack on the Lahore High Court today.