LAHORE: The Lahore High Court granted protective bail to former first lady Bushra Bibi in the Al-Qadir University Trust case, which led to the arrest of her husband and former prime minister Imran Khan last week.
The plea was filed by Advocates Khawaja Haris, Ali Ijaz Buttur and Intizar Panjutha in the graft case, with the federal government, NAB chief, and others being made parties in the petition. The Lahore High Court, led by Justice Shehbaz Rizvi, heard the plea and granted bail until May 23rd, while restraining the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting Bushra Bibi until then. Bushra Bibi expressed fear of being arrested by the NAB team and stated in her petition that the country’s anti-graft watchdog had illegally started an investigation into the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Imran Khan, ousted premier and Bushra’s husband, was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9th. His arrest triggered widespread protests, with thousands of his supporters going on a rampage and ransacking civil and military installations.
The Lahore High Court’s decision to grant protective bail to Bushra Bibi is a significant development in this case. Protective bail is granted to individuals who anticipate being arrested, and it is intended to provide them with interim protection from arrest for a specified period. This decision will ensure that Bushra Bibi is not arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case until May 23rd.
The Al-Qadir Trust case involves allegations of corruption and misuse of public funds against Imran Khan and his associates. The National Accountability Bureau launched an investigation into the case, and several people have been arrested and charged with corruption and other offenses.
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In conclusion, the Lahore High Court’s decision to grant protective bail to Bushra Bibi will provide her with temporary protection from arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case. This case has significant implications for Pakistani politics, and it remains to be seen how it will be resolved in the coming weeks and months.