Imran Bail: LHC Says PTI Chief Must Appear To Be Heard

Imran Bail: LHC Says PTI Chief Must Appear To Be Heard
The Lahore High Court has asked PTI chairman to appear in the ECP protest case hearing on Monday, and directed the IG police to finalise security arrangements with Imran Khan's legal team.

During the hearing, Imran Khan's counsel Khawaja Tariq Rahim asked the court for adequate security measures, saying the team could discuss the steps with the high court's security, on Thursday.

The court directed the provincial police chief to discuss the arrangements and asked PTI chief's counsel to present him in the court on Monday (Feb 19) at 2pm.

Earlier, the LHC warned issuing a notice of contempt against Imran on a plea seeking his protective bail in the case.

The remarks were given by Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh as he noted that the former premier's signatures on the affidavit — attached with the plea — and the power of attorney, were different.

Imran had submitted a power of attorney in court to declare Advocate Azhar Siddique as his counsel in the case.

On Wednesday (Feb 15), the LHC made the PTI chief's appearance mandatory for a hearing, be it on a ‘stretcher or an ambulance’, as the former premier sought a protective bail.

The learned court issued the remarks on regarding his appearance in the case pertaining to the case.

According to the LHC, the requested bail cannot be granted to Imran Khan until he appears in the court.

The counsel argued that the appearance wasn’t possible and said, “It's difficult [for Imran] to walk around, as per his medical report.”

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Insisting that “Imran Khan wants to appear before the court,” he said, “The report states that Imran cannot walk for at least three weeks.”

However, Judge Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh replied, “Law is equal for everyone” and that it was imperative for the accused to appear in the court for the bail.

An ATC in Islamabad canceled PTI chairman’s bail in the case earlier that day. The court rejected Imran’s plea seeking an exemption from personal appearance and directed him to appear before the court till 1:30pm. Upon his failure to appear before the ATC, the court canceled his bail.

In a separate hearing, Islamabad High Court restrained a banking court from cancelling Imran’s bail and granted him relief until Feb 22.

The decision was issued by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Tariq Mehmood in the prohibited funding case.