The Islamabad High Court (IHC) division bench on Friday granted two weeks interim bail to former prime minister Imran Khan in Al-Qadir Trust corruption case after hearing both sides.
On the other hand IHC single bench Mian Gul Hassan refrained authorities not to arrest Imran Khan in any case registered after May 9—a day termed as black day by Pakistan Army and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for violent protests by PTI supporters who torched public and military installations including Jinnah House aka Corps Commander House Lahore and Radio Pakistan building Peshawar after PTI chairman was arrested by NAB from Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises.
The single bench heard Imran Khan’s interim bail plea in Police custody case. The single bench also orders authorities to provide foolproof security to Imran Khan.
Earlier in the day, IHC division bench deferred the hearing following slogans in favour of the former prime minister in pre-Friday prayer hearing and promptly left the courtroom.
The hearing was paused shortly after it began after Friday prayers.
The delay caused the hearing to commence an hour later than scheduled, with Justice Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz presiding in Court Room No 2.
Arguments of Khawaja Haris, AGP and NAB’s prosecutor
Imran Khan’s advocate Khawaja Haris presented arguments on the interim bail application of his client before the division bench of the Islamabad High Court (HC).
He said, “We were filing a bail application and as per NAB Amendment Act, it is mandatory to share the inquiry report with the accused.”
“Had the inquiry report been given, we would have challenged it,” Khawaja Haris pleaded to the IHC division bench.
Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb asked, “The inquiry report has not been given to you”, to which, Khawaja Haris replied in negative and said the inquiry report was not shared with him till his client’s arrest.
The Court said when did this inquiry turn into an investigation, to which, Khawaja Haris replied, according to NAB, the inquiry was changed to investigation on April 28 and the anti-graft watchdog issued notice to Imran Khan on March 2.
He said the notice did not say whether his client was called as an ‘accused or as a witness’ and replied that notice is inconsistent with Section 19/E of NAB.
However, Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb said Imran Khan did not challenge that notice on this basis.
