LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to appear before it tomorrow (Thursday) if he wishes to secure protective bail in a case pertaining to protests outside the office of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh’s remarks came on Wednesday as he heard Khan’s plea. The PTI chief moved the high court after an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad rejected his bail in the same case earlier in the day — after Khan failed to appear in person before it.
The ousted prime minister, who was removed from power via a no-confidence move, was booked in the case in October last year after the Toshakhana verdict was announced by the ECP, sparking countrywide protests. Khan had been on bail on medical grounds after he was injured in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad during a rally on November 3.
Not only had the ATC summoned the PTI chief, but a banking court had also asked Khan to appear before it in the prohibited funding case. However, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order the banking court to hold its verdict till February 22 — in a sigh of relief for the ex-prime minister.
The LHC said that it would ensure Khan’s security and asked his counsel to ensure the PTI chief’s presence tomorrow (Thursday) as an in-person appearance was the first rule in a protective bail case.
