LAHORE / ISLAMABAD: As he finally appeared before a two-member bench after a day-long drama and multiple sessions of the court, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday granted interim protective bail to PTI Chairman Imran Khan till March 3 in a case pertaining to an ‘attack’ on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) building.
After an ultimatum by the high court to appear before the bench by 5pm, the PTI chairman left his Zaman Park residence and took at least one hour to reach LHC. Accompanied by hundreds of supporters gathered on the party’s call, Imran Khan reached the high court amid strict security arrangements made by the police.
As he continued to stay inside his vehicle on the LHC premises, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, who headed the division bench, had to order the SP Security to escort Mr Khan to the courtroom. The PTI lawyers said the petitioner was unable to come out of his vehicle parked inside the LHC due to massive crowd and security concerns. Subsequently, Mr Khan entered the courtroom at around 7:30pm.
The petition before the division bench sought protective bail in the FIR registered at police station Sangjanee of Islamabad under sections 341, 427, 353, 186, 147, 149, 188, 506, 109 of PPC read with section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The petition was filed afresh on Monday as the bench had previously dismissed the same after Imran Khan failed to appear before it despite repeated opportunities given to him on Feb 16.
