ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani court on Tuesday granted protective bail to former prime minister Imran Khan in two terrorism cases which were filed against him after clashes broke out between the police and his party supporters at the Judicial Complex in Islamabad on Saturday.
Khan was scheduled to appear in a district and sessions court in a case involving the illegal sale of state gifts, commonly known as the Toshakhana reference, though the court decided to adjourn its proceedings after fighting intensified between the two sides.
Judge Zafar Iqbal allowed Khan to go back after signing the attendance roll after being informed that the former prime minister could not move to the courtroom amid teargas shelling by the police and stone pelting by the activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
The government decided to file cases against Khan and dozens of his party leaders and supporters on terrorism charges in the wake of the incident.
“The Lahore High Court on Tuesday approved Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s protective bail in two terrorism cases filed against him in Islamabad,” reported Dawn newspapers, adding the bail would be effective until March 27.
Separately, a Lahore High Court judge took up a contempt petition filed by the former prime minister after police raided his residence in Lahore on the same day when he was in Islamabad for indictment in the Toshakhana reference.
The court had instructed the police to stand down last week after they went to Khan’s residence to detain him following the issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants against him by the Islamabad district court.
“I reached the Islamabad Toll Plaza and they attacked my house,” Dawn quoted Khan as saying in the court.
“The only message they have given is that there is no rule of law,” he added.
The judge announced he was going to initiate the contempt proceedings while also asking the authorities to provide details of cases against the former prime minister.
