In a significant development, the Lahore High Court upheld the interim pre-arrest bail of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday, pertaining to a criminal case involving an alleged attack on a police team outside his Zaman Park residence.
Justice Muhammad Amjad Rafiq presiding over the case directed Imran Khan, the founding chairman of PTI, to furnish bail bonds amounting to Rs500,000.
Representing Mr. Khan, Barrister Salman Safdar refuted the charges against his client, asserting that Imran Khan had no involvement in the purported attack on the police team. He highlighted that the trial court had initially granted pre-arrest bail to Khan based on merit, which was later rescinded due to his non-appearance following a conviction in the Toshakhana case. Safdar urged the court to uphold Khan’s bail.
Justice Rafiq noted that an accused in custody could seek bail relief without being physically present in court.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s pre-arrest bail petitions in three other cases related to the May 9 riots remain pending before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). These cases involve attacks on the Jinnah House, Askari Tower, and Shadman police station.
Previously, on March 1, the ATC confirmed Khan’s pre-arrest bail in four other cases, including the murder of Zille Shah, an attack on police outside Zaman Park, and the torching of offices belonging to PML-N in Model Town, as well as a container at Kalma Chowk, all transpiring on May 9, 2023.
