LHC put off hearing by 2pm on petition filed by Imran Khan seeking protective bail

Lahore: (Staff Reporter) The Lahore High Court (LHC) put off the hearing by 2pm on a petition filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan seeking protective bail in the case pertaining to protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office by the PTI leaders.

According to the source, at the outset of the hearing, Imran Khan’s counsel said the consultation process was still going on and they needed an hour’s more time. The court asked the lawyer whether Imran Khan would appear now upon which lawyer said Imran Khan was being consulted. The LHC then adjourned further court proceedings till 2pm

Earlier, as Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh resumed hearing, Advocate Azhar Siddique submitted power of attorney to represent the former prime minister in the case. The lawyer told the judge that Mr Khan had full trust in the judiciary. He said: “We may offer excuse to court if Imran Khan is not allowed to travel by the doctor”. Saying Mr Khan is head of the country’s largest political party, he said there were also threats to the life of the PTI chief.

As per details he also hinted at submitting another plea seeking exemption from personal appearance in the case, adding: “We are ponding over two different aspects in the case”. After his arguments, the court earlier adjourned the hearing till 12:30pm. Mr. Khan had filed the plea for protective bail after an anti-terrorism court (ATC) cancelled his bail in a case lodged against him over protesting outside the ECP office.

However, the high court conditioned the bail with the personal appearance of Imran Khan in the case and ordered him to appear before it until 9 am on Thursday. Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh had remarked that the appellant should be presented before the court on a stretcher or in the ambulance until 8 pm, if necessary.

Meanwhile in the plea, Imran Khan stated that he was a law-abiding citizen and he wanted to surrender himself before the court. He wanted to file a fresh interim bail plea in the court, so protective bail should be granted to him, the plea added.

Moreover the plea stated that Imran Khan had been nominated in the case to victimize him politically. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) had rejected the bail plea and had not given Mr. Khan an exemption from appearing before the court on medical grounds, the plea stated.