A IHC division bench has granted bail to the PTI Chief after he appeared before it in compliance of the Supreme Court in Al-Qadir Trust case.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday secured two-week bail in from the Islamabad High Court in Al-Qadir Trust case.
A IHC special division bench passed the order after Imran Khan appeared before it in compliance of the court orders in Al-Qadir Trust case. The plea was heard a day after the Supreme Court deemed Khan’s arrest in the case “unlawful”. The former Prime Minister’s arrest on Tuesday triggered violent protests across the country. Hundreds of police and paramilitary troops were deployed around the high court and the surrounding area, which was blocked for traffic.
Imran Khan’s arrest was made from the Islamabad High Court premises by paramilitary forces. The arrest warrant was issued by the Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Al-Qadir Trust case, and the Supreme Court found that the manner of execution of the arrest warrant was invalid and unlawful. Contrary to the IHC, the Supreme Court deemed Khan’s arrest “illegal”.
The case has been a contentious issue between the opposition parties and the government. Since being ousted from power last April, Khan has been actively campaigning for snap elections and has criticized the coalition government and military for his removal from power. He has accused senior military and government officials of plotting a November assassination attempt that saw him shot in the leg during a rally. Imran Khan’s bail plea was heard by a special division bench comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, formed by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq. Faisal Hussain Chaudhry, a lawyer for Khan, expressed hope that the bail would be granted by the High Court.
Security arrangements were made ahead of the hearing, with police and paramilitary troops deployed around the high court and the surrounding area, which was blocked for traffic. PTI lawyers were present at the rear gate of the IHC, while Rangers personnel stood outside the court’s building and Islamabad Police were deployed inside the premises.
PTI had called for supporters to come together, prompting the Islamabad police to issue an emergency order banning all gatherings in the capital city. PTI lawyers had also urged the court staff to change the room designated for the hearing, as it was deemed “too small” for the hearing. The request was later accepted, and the hearing was shifted to Court Room 2. There have been concerns regarding Khan’s arrest and the subsequent protests, which led to several casualties and injuries. The internet was also temporarily shut down in some areas of the country, causing further disruption. The unrest has highlighted the need for peaceful and democratic means of resolving political issues in Pakistan.
Khan’s alleged involvement in the Al-Qadir Trust case has been a contentious issue between the opposition parties and the government. The case involves allegations of money laundering and illegal transfer of funds to a trust established by Khan’s close aide. Khan has denied any wrongdoing and has claimed that the case is politically motivated. He has accused the government of using state institutions to target him and his party. The opposition parties have accused the government of using the NAB as a tool to suppress dissent and silence political opponents.
The case has also raised questions about the independence of the judiciary and the accountability process in Pakistan. Critics have argued that the NAB lacks transparency and is used by the government to target opposition leaders. They have called for reforms in the accountability process to ensure transparency and fairness.
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The hearing of Imran Khan’s bail plea in the Al-Qadir Trust case at Islamabad High Court has highlighted the need for peaceful and democratic means of resolving political issues in Pakistan. The case has been a contentious issue between the opposition parties and the government and has raised questions about the independence of the judiciary and the accountability process in Pakistan. The unrest caused by Khan’s arrest has highlighted the need for reforms in the accountability process to ensure transparency