Lahore High Court’s two separate division benches, one headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and the second by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi granted protective bails to former prime minister Imran Khan in two call-up-notices in different inquiries initiated by the NAB and two FIRs registered against him under anti-terrorism charges respectively.
Meanwhile, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh (single bench), while issuing notices to concerned quarters, has sought replies from chief secretary Punjab and Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab by Mach 28 in a contempt petition filed by PTI head Imran Khan against the Zaman Park operation which he claimed violated TORs agreed by local police, Punjab administration and PTI leadership.
Justice Sheikh hearing another plea filed by PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry seeking details of the cases registered against Imran Khan and PTI leaderships, sought complete details of the cases from federal law office along with affidavit by March 22. Justice Sheikh also restrained the concerned quarters from taking any coercive measures till submission of the report.
The terrorism cases were registered against Imran Khan over the violence that ensued at the Islamabad Judicial Complex last week.
A division bench, headed by Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, took up the former prime minister’s plea seeking protective bail in two terrorism cases after PTI supporters had clashed with the police in the federal capital.
Imran was granted relief until March 27.
It may be noted that on Monday, the court made it clear that if PTI Chairman Imran Khan seeks relief in terrorism cases filed against him, he must appear in court on Tuesday (today).
Imran arrived at the court premises in a rather discrete fashion earlier today, accompanied by party leader Fawad Chaudhry.
چئیرمین تحریک انصاف عمران خان لاہور ہائی کورٹ میں جسٹس سلیم شیخ کے کورٹ روم میں پہنچ چکے ہیں
آج اہم کیسز کی سماعت ہے pic.twitter.com/hrfTCW3iCi
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 21, 2023
The PTI chief could be seen being escorted inside the court premises surrounded by security blankets.
چئیرمین پاکستان تحریک انصاف عمران خان آج بھی قانون کی پاسداری میں عدالت پیش ہوئے ہیں
pic.twitter.com/lXjILBbZv0
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 21, 2023
It may be noted that among the multiple hearings, he was scheduled to attend today, one pertained to the security concerns Imran had expressed during his court appearances.
Multiple hearings at LHC
Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh’s court heard a petition against police operation at Imran’s Lahore residence.
Imran maintained that the police had not respected the sanctity of his home and that the operation was illegal. The PTI chief asserted that the LHC’s march 17 orders were not followed, and sought contempt of court proceedings against the concerned authorities.
“My windows were broken, my wife observes the veil and her screams can be heard on camera, the sanctity of my home was breached,” Imran told the court. He also claimed that five of his guards were “taken away and tortured”.
The PTI chief also maintained that he had come to court “secretly through a hidden path that nobody knows and without a convoy”.
“Contempt of court proceedings will be initiated against those who are making a joke out of the judiciary on media,” Justice Sheikh remarked adding that “all parties must respect the court”.
The court ordered the government’s lawyer to present his case on the operation. Furthermore, the judge summoned all respondents, including IG Punjab and adjourned proceedings until March 28.
The same court then heard Imran’s plea seeking details of cases registered against him and ordered the government’s lawyers to appear until tomorrow (Wednesday).
Meanwhile, the Punjab government’s counsel and Assistant Advocate General raised objections over Justice Sheikh and filed a request for the case to be heard by another court.
Irked by the request, the court questioned on what grounds the Punjab government had lost confidence in the single bench.
“This [application] is over a previous judgment,” the judge remarked, “if you repeat this again I will pursue contempt of court proceedings.”
“Suo motu notice can also be taken,” Justice Sheikh remarked as he told the government to follow the previously issued orders and present the records.
Bail in NAB cases
The former prime minister also managed to secure bail in two National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases pertaining to the Toshakhana reference.
NAB Rawalpindi had summoned Imran to record his statements in the gift depository case. He is accused of retaining certain state gifts.
The PTI chairman stated, in petitions filed today, that the notices sent by the accountability watchdog were “indicative of nefarious designs” by NAB as the watchdog intends on “arresting the petitioner”.
During the hearing, the two-member bench presided by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, was informed by Imran’s counsel NAB files a new case as soon as bail is granted in one case and requested 15-day protective bail for the former premier – citing appearance in an Islamabad court as the reason.
Imran also informed the court that more than 100 cases had been registered against him and he is unable to give time to election campaigning as he spent significant time attending court hearings.
The court then granted protective bail to the PTI chief till March 31.
The PTI chairman was also scheduled to appear before a court hearing his petition challenging his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
A five-member larger bench headed by Justice Bilal Hassan will preside over the case.
Source link: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2407293/imran-gets-relief-from-lhc-in-terrorism-cases-nab-notices