The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday approved Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan’s interim bail till April 6 in seven cases registered against him following clashes at the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC).
A two-member IHC division bench, comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, heard the petition.
At the outset of the hearing, the IHC Justice asked Imran’s lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar about the objections raised by the court’s registrar over PTI chief’s biometric issue on filed pleas and remarked that “Now, biometric has become a cinch even EasyPaisa has enabled that system.”
Justice Aamer asked the lawyer “why did not you approach the Anti-Terrorism Court?” Barrister Safdar responded that they attempted to file a petition at the ATC on March 18, but were not allowed entry after waiting at the gate for 45 minutes.
Justice Aamer remarked that, by bypassing the ATC, you [PTI] were seeking relief from the court. He further remarked that if there had been a disruption of security outside the ATC, it was the PTI’s responsibility to ensure law and order.
The IHC CJ went on to add that Imran Khan, the chief of one of the largest parties in the country, had a responsibility to look after the situation.
“Why he had not gone to the trial court first when that was ultimately where he had to go,” added Justice Aamer.
In response, Lawyer maintained that he would present Supreme Court’s judgements in this regard.
Justice Hassan remarked that the court had asked the chief election commissioner to provide security to Khan several times.
At this, Islamabad Advocate-General Jahangir Jadoon maintained that the trial court was shifted to the judicial complex from F8 katchehri court.
Justice Farooq then remarked what the petitioner would do if the administration gave irresponsible statements.
The court then granted interim bail to Khan, after which the PTI chairman left the high court.
