Islamabad, May 23, 2023 – In a significant development, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad has granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in eight cases pertaining to the violence at the Judicial Complex. The court approved the bail during the hearing of Imran Khan’s plea until June 8.
The cases against Imran Khan were registered at various police stations in the capital, including Golra, Bara Kahu, Ramna, Khanna, and CTD, after the police accused the PTI chief and party workers of attacking the police and causing unrest outside the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) in Islamabad. The violence erupted during the hearing of the Toshakhana case on March 18.
However, Imran Khan’s legal battles are not over yet, as he is also expected to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Islamabad later today in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case. The NAB had previously summoned Imran and his wife, Bushra Bibi, for questioning regarding the alleged misuse of authority as a public office holder in aiding and abetting the illegal transfer of £190 million for personal gains.
Imran Khan, who has expressed concerns about the possibility of his arrest despite securing bail in all cases, addressed his supporters on Twitter Spaces last night, urging them to remain peaceful if he is taken into custody. He emphasized the importance of peaceful protests, stating that violent actions could lead to further crackdowns.
The PTI chairman described the allegations against him as politically motivated and maintained that the requested documents pertaining to the Al-Qadir Trust case should be with the relevant government department. He reiterated that he was not the custodian of the documents and had already provided the bulk of the requested documents through the chief finance officer (CFO). Imran Khan also accused the NAB of playing a role in his “abduction.”
Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9 in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case had sparked widespread protests across the country. However, the Supreme Court later declared his arrest to be “unlawful” and instructed him to appear before the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The IHC subsequently barred authorities from arresting Imran Khan until May 31 in cases filed against him after May 9.
While the recent grant of bail in the eight cases related to the Judicial Complex violence brings temporary relief to Imran Khan, his legal battles continue as he faces the NAB investigation into the Al-Qadir Trust case. The political landscape remains tense, and all eyes are on the developments surrounding the PTI chief’s court appearances and ongoing legal proceedings.
