ISLAMABAD: Amid high drama, former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan on Monday appeared before the Lahore high court in two cases against him related to violent protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last year in the wake of his disqualification by the electoral watchdog in the Toshakhana (state gift storehouse) case. While one bench granted him protective bail, another bench disposed of the second case.
A large number of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters had gathered outside the court to welcome Imran after he arrived at the court amid tight security.
Footage aired on television showed Imran’s convoy being showered with rose petals as it made its way inside the high court premises with a large number of PTI supporters chanting slogans in support of the former prime minister.
A two-member bench led by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi granted protective bail to the PTI chief in the first case.
Taking the rostrum, Imran — who was injured in November last year after being fired at during a rally — said that his leg had recovered to an extent but the doctors had still advised him to rest for two weeks. He said his medical checkup was scheduled for February 28. He further said that he had waited outside the courtroom for an hour, adding that he ‘fully respects the courts’. “My party’s name is Tehreek-e-Insaf (movement for justice) and I expect the same from courts,” he added.
The court, subsequently, granted Imran protective bail till March 3 and directed him to approach the relevant court by then.
Earlier, Khan’s counsel had requested the court to verify his client’s presence through the court staff as the PTI chief was facing difficulty in entering the court due to security reasons and presence of a large number of PTI workers.
However, the court rejected the request and ordered the court’s security in charge to present Imran before the bench, prompting him to walk to the courtroom.
The PTI chief has been recuperating at his residence in Lahore ever since he was wounded in the assassination attempt in Wazirabad city in Punjab province on November 3. This was the first time Imran appeared before a court of law after the attack.
A terrorism case was filed against him in October 2022 after PTI workers took to the streets and held demonstrations outside ECP offices across the country after it disqualified the former PM in the Toshakhana case. The electoral body had disqualified Imran for “deliberately concealing his assets” relating to the Toshakhana gifts retained by him, including Rolex watches, a ring and a pair of cufflinks, which were given to him by foreign dignitaries. Imran had failed to mention these in his declaration of assets submitted to the commission.
Soon after the electoral body’s verdict was announced, the PTI leadership asked people to take to the streets. Clashes were also reported between the police and protesters in Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi.
A large number of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters had gathered outside the court to welcome Imran after he arrived at the court amid tight security.
Footage aired on television showed Imran’s convoy being showered with rose petals as it made its way inside the high court premises with a large number of PTI supporters chanting slogans in support of the former prime minister.
A two-member bench led by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi granted protective bail to the PTI chief in the first case.
Taking the rostrum, Imran — who was injured in November last year after being fired at during a rally — said that his leg had recovered to an extent but the doctors had still advised him to rest for two weeks. He said his medical checkup was scheduled for February 28. He further said that he had waited outside the courtroom for an hour, adding that he ‘fully respects the courts’. “My party’s name is Tehreek-e-Insaf (movement for justice) and I expect the same from courts,” he added.
The court, subsequently, granted Imran protective bail till March 3 and directed him to approach the relevant court by then.
Earlier, Khan’s counsel had requested the court to verify his client’s presence through the court staff as the PTI chief was facing difficulty in entering the court due to security reasons and presence of a large number of PTI workers.
However, the court rejected the request and ordered the court’s security in charge to present Imran before the bench, prompting him to walk to the courtroom.
The PTI chief has been recuperating at his residence in Lahore ever since he was wounded in the assassination attempt in Wazirabad city in Punjab province on November 3. This was the first time Imran appeared before a court of law after the attack.
A terrorism case was filed against him in October 2022 after PTI workers took to the streets and held demonstrations outside ECP offices across the country after it disqualified the former PM in the Toshakhana case. The electoral body had disqualified Imran for “deliberately concealing his assets” relating to the Toshakhana gifts retained by him, including Rolex watches, a ring and a pair of cufflinks, which were given to him by foreign dignitaries. Imran had failed to mention these in his declaration of assets submitted to the commission.
Soon after the electoral body’s verdict was announced, the PTI leadership asked people to take to the streets. Clashes were also reported between the police and protesters in Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi.