The Islamabad High Court has extended the interim bail of former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan in any case registered against him in Islamabad till May 31, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The order was issued on Wednesday by IHC judge, Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb during the proceeding on a petition filed by Imran Khan requesting the court to issue order for the provision of details of all cases registered against him and restrain authorities from capturing him.
Justice Aurangzeb extended the PTI chairman’s interim bail and also barred police from arresting him till May 31.
The additional attorney general, advocate general and state counsel appeared before the court.
Barrister Gohar Ali appeared on behalf of Imran Khan.
The federal government requested the court to give it some time to provide detail of the cases against Khan.
Accepting the federal government’s request, the court adjourned the case till May 31.
Earlier, the PTI chairman’s lawyer submitted an application seeking his client’s exemption from the court appearance.
It was stated in the petition that Imran’s arrival at the court might have created law and order situation. It said that the PDM staged a protest outside the Supreme Court a couple of days ago.
The petition further stated that Imran was resorting to the concerned forums on court order, requesting it to accept his exemption plea.
During the hearing today, the court accepted the PTI chairman’s request.
Media ban
Earlier, the court of Justice Miangul Aurangzeb banned the entry of media persons in the courtroom.
The assistant registrar said that only five journalists could go inside the courtroom.
When a media person asked him why only five journalists were allowed today when usually 30 reporters would go inside for media coverage, the assistant registrar said ‘I don’t know anything, it’s judge sahib’s order. You better ask him’.
Imran, other PTI leaders get interim bail in terror cases till May 25
Separately, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad extended the interim bail of PTI Chief Imran Khan and other PTI leaders till May 25 in cases registered against them under terrorism charges.
The court also accepted the court exemption pleas submitted by Imran Khan and others through their counsels.
The case was heard by ATC Judge Raja Jawad Hasan.
The court sought final arguments from the lawyers on the next hearing.
Lawyer Sardar Masroof said that Asad Umar and other PTI leaders have been arrested.
The judge remarked that those who were not arrested and did not appear before the court, the court would decide their cases.
Lawyer Sher Marwat said that the situation is that if someone comes to court, he gets arrested.
He said that on the one hand, the authorities are asking them to appear before the court, while on the other, they are also discouraging them by arresting them. He said that Fawad Chaudhry got bail from the Islamabad High Court, but still, police tried to arrest him yesterday.
The lawyer pleaded with the court to accept all court exemption petitions for today.
The court accepted all the pleas and granted interim bail to the accused till May 25.
Reporter Ehtisham Kiyani