LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday secured interim pre-arrest bail in four criminal cases, including those of arson attack on the Jinnah House (residence of Lahore corps commander), from an anti-terrorism court (ATC) and the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Mr Khan first appeared before the ATC with his counsel Barrister Salman Safdar under strict security arrangements.

The counsel argued that the PTI chief was in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) when the Jinnah House was attacked by the protesters. He said his client, when learnt about the events, had strongly condemned the violence.

He said the police registered false and fabricated cases against Mr Khan on political considerations.

ATC Judge Ijaz Ahmad Buttar granted bail to Mr Khan in three cases till June 2, subject to surety bonds of Rs100,000 each. The judge directed the PTI chief to join the police investigation and create no hurdle in the process.

The judge also reserved verdict on the confirmation of interim bail of the former prime minister in two old cases relating to violence outside Zaman Park.

Later, Mr Khan appeared before the LHC to seek pre-arrest bail in a case of distorting and hiding evidence about the alleged murder of Zille Shah, a PTI worker.

The bail petition was fixed before Justice Anwarul Haq Pannun after Justice Ali Zia Bajwa recused himself from it for personal reasons.

Barrister Safdar stated that the PTI chief did not appear before the sessions court due to security reasons and approached the LHC for the bail.

Denying the charges against his client, the counsel said some police stations had become a permanent source of registering false cases. He said Racecourse police station was one of them as it lodged a fake case relating to the PTI worker’s death.

Justice Pannun observed that the case of the PTI worker’s death in a road accident was important.

The judge questioned the allegations against police and intelligence agencies leveled by the PTI chief even after knowing that the worker died in a road accident.

The counsel said there were conflicting views about the death of the party worker. He said Zille Shah was not mentally sound and how could the party chief be involved in the alleged murder of his worker. He said the worker died due to torture in police custody.

The judge granted pre-arrest bail to Mr Khan till June 2 and summoned the case record from the police.

Talking to the reporters, Imran Khan said he condemned the May 9 violent protests and attack on the Jinnah House, which “should not have happened”.

He accused the PDM government of violating the basic human rights.

He added that the government got “trapped” after arresting 7,000 PTI workers.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2023