Al-Qadir Trust case: IHC grants 2-week bail to Imran Khan

Islamabad, (thestates.news)| The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday granted protective bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in Al-Qadir Trust case hours after he warned of countrywide unrest if he was arrested again. The former prime minister, who was arrested from the premises of the IHC on Tuesday, was granted 15-day protective bail by the two-member special division bench, comprising of Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz.

The special division bench was formed by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq to hear the former prime minister’s bail plea a day after Supreme Court termed Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case “unlawful”. A beaming Khan, sporting a stylish pair of sunglasses, arrived at IHC in tight security like a celebrity, wearing a crisp light-blue shalwar kameez and a dark blue waistcoat, as hundreds of police and paramilitary troops guarded the premises of the judicial structure in the federal capital.

At the outset of the hearing, which began after an hour-long delay, the two-member bench expressed its displeasure after lawyers chanted slogans in favour of the former prime minister. During the first session, Khan in response to a local media question on whether he was allowed to use phone during his arrest or not said: “NAB officials allowed me to talk to my wife via landline”.

The reporter then cross-questioned that why did Khan contact Musarrat Cheema when he was given the phone to talk to his wife. At this Khan clarified that he could not contact his wife. A local media further asked whether he had expected to be arrested, Khan replied: “I was 100% certain that I would be arrested.” Following this, the courtroom erupted into slogans in favour of the PTI chief. The courtroom staff tried to stop the chanting; however, they failed to do so. At this, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb said that this was “unacceptable”.

Subsequently, the hearing was briefly adjourned for a break for on Friday prayers, Geo new reports. In an informal discussion with media during the hearing break, Khan said that he will not resist if his bail plea is rejected. Contacting his legal team amid fears of arrest, Khan referring to the clashes warned that a similar reaction would be seen if he is arrested again. (UNI)