Islamabad [Pakistan], May 12 (ANI): A division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday ordered not to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan in any case filed after May 9, reported Samaa TV and ARY News. The court also granted the former premier bail for two weeks in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

The judgment came a day after the Pakistan Supreme Court termed his arrest from the IHC premises “invalid and unlawful”, Dawn reported. Further, according to Dawn News, the Islamabad High Court, while granting a reprieve to the former prime minister, said Imran Khan should be granted bail if martial law, which is sanctioned by Article 245 of the country’s Constitution, has been enforced in the country for two weeks.

Article 245 of the Pakistan Constitution mandates that the armed forces shall, under the directions of the federal government, defend the country against external aggression or threat of war, and, subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so. However, there are no reports in the Pakistan media suggesting that martial law has been enforced in the country.

A division bench comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz heard the PTI chief’s bail plea in courtroom No.3. Dawn NewsTV reported that Imran’s lawyers had also filed four additional pleas urging the IHC to club all the cases against him and direct authorities to provide details of the cases registered against him.

The hearing had initially begun after a nearly two-hour delay, with the media reporting that officials were conducting a security sweep outside the courtroom. Geo News reported that the hearing was delayed after the judges left the courtroom alleging that “pro-Imran” slogans were raised. Imran claimed that he was hit on the head during his arrest.

In an informal conversation with journalists at the IHC, Imran said that NAB officials treated him “fine” but also added that he was hit on the head while being arrested. He further said he was also not able to get in touch with his wife Bushra Bibi. On violent protests sweeping the country, he said, “How could I have stopped whatever happened? I had already told [you] that there would be a reaction to the arrest.” “When I was [taken into custody], how could I be responsible?” the former premier asked.
In a video shared on social media by Independent Urdu, Imran further said, “I was sitting in the high court. They had no reason to arrest me. I was abducted.”

“And there, they showed me the warrant for the first time when they took me to jail. This is what happens when the country is governed by the law of the jungle, army carries out abductions without any rhyme or reason. Where did the police go? Where did the law go?” he asked. “The law of the jungle has been enforced in the country. It seems as if martial law has been declared,” he said.

“When I reached the court yesterday, I found out for the first time that 40 helpless people have lost their lives in this. I did not even know about this,” the former PM added. Speaking to the media outside the IHC after the break in proceedings due to Friday prayers, PTI lawyer Babar Awan claimed that a police team from Lahore left for Islamabad to arrest Imran in “new cases”.

“There are two to three people in the incumbent administration, who are worried because if Imran Khan is released, their jobs will be in danger,” he alleged, adding that this was why Punjab police had been called to the capital. Imran’s Lawyer Awan reiterated there were threats to Imran’s life, adding that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had also said the same. (ANI)

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Blanket relief for Imran Khan: IHC bars arrest in all cases till Monday

Islamabad [Pakistan], May 12 (ANI): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday barred authorities from arresting PTI chairman Imran Khan in cases, including those that are undisclosed, registered across the country until Monday, May 15, Dawn reported. The court also granted protective bail to the former prime minister in three terrorism cases registered against him in Lahore and the Zille Shah murder case.

Earlier in the day, a separate IHC bench accepted Imran’s bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case for two weeks.
The verdict came a day after the Supreme Court termed his arrest “invalid and unlawful“.
It also stopped authorities from arresting the PTI chief till May 17 in any case registered in Islamabad after May 9, Dawn reported.

A division bench, comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, granted Imran a two-week bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case, in connection with which the Rangers had whisked him away from the Islamabad premises on May 9. The PTI chief’s bail plea was heard and disposed of in courtroom No.2.

During the hearing, Justice Aurangzeb asked Imran if he condemned the violence that ensued after his arrest, to which the PTI chief’s lawyer replied in the affirmative. The judge then asked the former premier to submit a declaration in court stating the same. The hearing had initially begun after a nearly two-hour delay, with the media reporting that officials were conducting a security sweep outside the courtroom, Dawn reported.

But it was halted shortly after it began at 1 pm on account of Friday prayers. Geo News, meanwhile, reported that judges had left the courtroom after “pro-Imran” slogans were raised. When the hearing resumed after 2.30 pm (local time), Imran was present in the courtroom as his legal team and lawyer Khawaja Haris presented his arguments, Dawn reported.

Haris contended before the court that the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) actions were illegal, saying that the NAB could only issue an arrest warrant after an inquiry had formally been turned into an investigation.

He said the PTI got to know through media reports that NAB had formally initiated an investigation against Imran. Harris also said the PTI chief had approached the IHC on May 9 seeking the NAB report in the inquiry but was arrested before he could enter the courtroom. At one point during the hearing, the court asked the petitioner if he was provided with a questionnaire in connection with the case, to which Haris replied in the negative.

He said Imran was issued a call-up notice which he did not appear for but, instead, submitted a written reply. Haris further said the accountability watchdog was “biased”. The court then accepted Imran’s bail plea, directing the NAB prosecutor general and Imran’s lawyers to come prepared at the next hearing. It also said that it would decide whether Imran’s bail should be cancelled or extended at the next hearing, Dawn reported.

After the hearing concluded, Dawn.com’s correspondent outside the court said a sea of PTI workers and supporters celebrated in the streets. Separately, an IHC bench comprising Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri and Justice Ejaz Ishaq Khan granted the PTI chief protective bail in three terrorism cases registered against him in Lahore for 10 days.

During the hearing, the PTI chief told the court that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had warned of arresting him again, saying that there was no rule of law in the country currently. Earlier, Justice Jahangiri also approved Imran’s protective bail in a case pertaining to the death of Zille Shah, a PTI worker who was killed during a party rally in Lahore earlier this year, for 10 days against surety bonds worth PKR 50,000, Dawn reported.

On the other hand, the ruling coalition — Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) president Maulana Fazal-Ur-Rehman called on the nation to march towards Supreme Court and protest against the release of Imran Khan. He asked the party workers to resort to violence if touched or harmed by the security forces. (ANI)