IHC grants transit bail to Imran Khan till August 25

Islamabad: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday granted transit bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan till August 25, after he filed a pre-arrest bail application in the court—to evade arrest in a terror case. 

The IHC has awarded a three-day protective bail to Imran Khan, said PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry, adding that, “During these three days he will appear at the Anti-terrorism Court and face the charges against him”.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s former prime minister decided to approach IHC—seeking immunity against his arrest in a terror case. 

In the latest chapter of the tense struggle for power with Pakistan’s current government since his ouster, Islamabad police registered a terrorism case against Imran Khan on Sunday night.     

According to details, PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said that the party's legal team will file the plea in IHC on Imran Khan's behalf after government charged the former leader under “terrorism act”. 

As per first information report (FIR), a case has been registered against Khan under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) for threatening an additional sessions judge and senior police officers of the Islamabad Police at a rally in Islamabad’s F-9 Park. 

Police said in a charge report that Khan had threatened the officials. 

“The way Imran Khan made his speech and the threats he made led to fear and terror among the police, judiciary and the common people and it harmed the peace of country,” they wrote in the report.

During the rally, Khan criticized top police officials and a judge for the arrest of his chief of staff.   

On Saturday, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) banned the live coverage of Imran’s speeches.  

The cricketer-turned politician, then, hit out at the Shehbaz Sharif led-government for banning the live telecast of his speeches on TV, saying that the government has sunk to a new low. 

Hours after news of the charge broke, hundreds of Khan’s supporters gathered outside his residence in Islamabad in an effort to prevent his arrest. 

Supporters gathered at Khan’s palatial residence on the outskirts of the capital city and chanted slogans against the current government.

It is pertinent to mention here, since Imran Khan was ousted from power in April, he has held boisterous rallies castigating the government. The former cricketer alleged that there was a foreign conspiracy plotted in the United States (US) to overthrow his government with the help of the opposition parties. 

He, however, maintained his strong political base and gained momentum in local elections.