ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court on Monday extended the interim bail of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan till July 21 in 10 cases pertaining to violence and damage to public property during the party’s long march in May, while another court confirmed the pre-arrest bail in five cases.

Mr Khan had applied for pre-arrest bail before Judge Kamran Basharat Mufti of District and Sessions (west) Court and Additional District and Sessions Judge (east) of Islamabad Abdul Ghafoor Kakar.

The PTI chairman, however, did not appear before the courts. His counsel, Babar Awan, filed applications seeking exemption from personal appearance of the ex-premier. Both courts allowed the applications and exempted him from mandatory appearance on Monday.

Taking up his plea to avoid arrest in 10 FIRs registered against him at Aabpara, I-9, Kohsar, Karachi Company, Golra, Tarnol and Secretariat police stations of the federal capital in connection with the May 25 violence, Judge Mufti extended the interim bail till Thursday.

On the other hand, Additional District and Sessions Judge Kakar confirmed the pleas seeking bail in five FIRs registered at Bara Kahu, Sihala, Koral and Lohi Bher police stations under various sections of Pakistan Penal Code.

Earlier on June 24, both courts granted interim bail to Mr Khan against Rs5,000 surety bonds in each case. The courts also summoned record from the relevant police stations before adjourning the proceedings.

Also, Judge Mufti had confirmed last month the pre-arrest bails of Asad Umar, Qasim Khan Suri, Faisal Javed, Pervez Khattak, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Shehryar Afridi, Sheraz Basharat, Raja Khurram Nawaz and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

The counsel for the PTI argued before the court that the protest march was their constitutional right and the cases registered against his clients were politically motivated.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.
Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...