ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan got pre-arrest transitory protective bail on Sunday from the Islamabad High Court in the case pertaining to “threatening” Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a party rally in August.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, who approved the bail, ordered the PTI leader to submit surety bonds of Rs10,000. The IHC judge also ordered the former prime minister to appear in front of the lower court before October 7.

Imran’s lawyer, Babar Awan, filed the application on his behalf. Earlier, the judicial magistrate had ordered that the PTI leader must be arrested and brought in front of it today.

“I appeared in front of Justice Mohsin Kayani and told him that firstly, we have already taken bail in this case. Secondly, other charges were added in this case which cannot be added as they were cognizable offenses. The paper [warrant] is baseless,” he told reporters after the court approved the bail.

He added that the Islamabad Police made desperate attempts to arrest his party leader after the arrest warrants were issued on Saturday. Awan alleged that the coalition government was trying to do a civil war here and stop democracy.

“I want to tell this imported [government] that when a missed call is given, people take to the streets,” he said, adding that party supporters were waiting for Imran’s call whether it would be given in a day, week, or month.

He claimed that lawyers, farmers, youth, and people would take to the streets in large numbers when Imran would give a call.

“Now it is our turn to file cases. From Monday, we will file cases,” the lawyer said.

The Margalla police station issued on Saturday a warrant for the arrest of Imran which drew sharp criticism from the former ruling party. A large number of PTI supporters had reached Bani Gala, the residence of Imran, to support their leader.

“The government will be responsible if it tried some misadventure,” PTI leader Murad Saeed, who was among several PTI leaders standing outside Bani Gala, said on Saturday. The party has described Imran as a “red line”.

The warrant was issued over case no 407, registered at the Margalla police station. It was registered in response to Imran’s threat against Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry and other officials.

The case includes sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke, breach peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code. It also includes sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 189 (threat of injury to public servant).

The Islamabad Police urged the people to avoid ‘rumors’ while reacting to reports that a heavy contingent of police was being deployed outside Bani Gala.

“There is no truth in such news and [they are] baseless. Bani Gala has been sent on routine duty. Citizens are requested not to listen to propaganda,” it said in a series of tweets.

Earlier, it said that the PTI chief Imran has not yet obtained his bail from the District and Sessions court. In case of non-appearance, he could be arrested, it said, and urged the people are requested not to listen to “rumours”.