Daily Times

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has refused to grant protective bail to former prime minister Imran Khan until he appears in person. The PTI chairman had moved the high court on Wednesday after an Islamabad anti-terrorism court rejected his bail earlier in the day in a case pertaining to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Hearing the plea, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh of the LHC asked Imran’s counsel why his client could not appear in court. The former premier’s counsel defended his client by presenting medical reports related to his health issues. At one point, Justice Tariq asked the counsel to ensure the ex-premier’s presence in the court if he wanted protective bail. However, the lawyer kept on stating that his client had been advised by the doctors to take complete bed rest for three weeks. “Ensure the petitioner’s presence-even if he is brought in an ambulance,” Justice Tariq remarked during the proceedings. “If you want protective bail you have to produce the petitioner before the court. We are sitting here, you can bring the petitioner.”

The petitioner’s counsel argued that Imran Khan is not able to appear before the court. “We can send security guards if there is a danger to his life,” Justice Tariq argued. The lawyer requested the court to grant the petitioner protective bail from Zaman Park to Islamabad. “We are sitting here since 8 o’clock despite people raising objections that the court is working late at night,” Justice Tariq responded. Later, Imran Khan’s counsel left the court’s premises. Meanwhile, PTI leader Chaudhry Fawad Hussain informed the court staffers about two medical reasons for Imran’s absence. He said that the doctors had advised him to take complete rest for two weeks. He also apprised the court about the “danger” to Imran’s life, adding that an assassination attempt had already been made on the life of the former prime minister.

However, he told the staffers that they will comply with what the court has ordered. As the proceedings resumed after a break, the court granted opportunity to Imran’s counsels to hold consultation over legal points. The counsel argued that there were some health issues with the petitioner which was why he was unable to appear before the court. Proceedings were adjourned until 8:15pm. When the proceedings restarted a third time, the counsels presented judgements of the courts, arguing that protective bail could be granted in such conditions.

On this, Justice Tariq again asked why Imran Khan could not appear before the court. “You are saying he cannot move and I myself watch him daily on television,” Justice Tariq remarked. Justice Tariq expressed his displeasure on the intervention of other lawyers, saying it is not a TV talk show. He remarked that the petitioner was given opportunity to appear before the court, but he did not. The LHC subsequently proceedings until Thursday, making it clear that it will not grant the bail without former prime minister’s appearance.

The PTI chairman had moved the high court after an Islamabad ATC rejected his bail earlier in the day in the ECP protests case. The former premier was on interim bail in the case and the anti-terrorism court had ordered him to come to court in person, but he failed to make appearance yet again. Islamabad police had booked the PTI chief and scores of party workers on terrorism charges in October last year in the wake of protests following his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference.