A local court in Islamabad has extended Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan’s interim bail for eight days in the PTI long march vandalism case.

Islamabad District Sessions Court Judge Kamran Basharat Mufti heard the interim bail application filed by former prime minister Imran Khan in the vandalism case.

Khan’s lawyer requested the court for an exemption from attendance as the PTI leader is in Lahore.

The judge remarked that it is a political matter but the accused must also appear, on which junior lawyer Rai Tajmal informed the court that Babar Awan was going abroad, so he did not appear to pursue the case.

The court said that it is mandatory for Khan to appear for case number 425 registered at the Kohsar police station and that the bail orders will only be issued if the accused appears in court.

The lawyer requested that the Kohsar police station case be fixed for the next hearing, on which the court extended Khan’s interim bails in 10 cases till July 30.

The court also fixed the hearing of the Kohsar police station case for July 30, while Imran Khan’s request for exemption from attendance was also approved.

Three days ago, two local courts of Islamabad had extended Khan’s interim bails till July 21 in 15 cases.

The court had also approved Imran Khan’s request for exemption from attendance.