Islamabad High Court barred authorities from arresting Suleman Shehbaz from the airport on arrival, provided he presents himself in court. The court made the ruling in Shehbaz’s plea for protective bail on Thursday.

Suleman, who is the son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has been in self-exile since 2018. He had recently approached the court for protective bail, saying that he wished to return to the country.

Suleman Shehbaz’s counsel Amjad Parvez told the court that the FIR against his client had been registered after he had left the country.

Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Aamer Farooq remarked that protective bail cannot be granted unless the petitioner is present in the court.

In response, Suleman Shehbaz’s counsel Amjad Parvez asked the court to order that the petitioner not be arrested as he makes his way from the airport to the court.

“Suleman Shehbaz will reach the country on a Saudi airline flight on December 11,” he told the court.

In response, the chief justice ordered authorities not to arrest Suleman Shehbaz at the airport and ordered him to present himself in court by December 13, and adjourned the hearing.

“I was compelled to leave.”

Suleman Shehbaz claimed while talking to a private television channel from Madinah that Shahzad Akbar had made up cases at Imran Khan’s request.

Suleman Shehbaz continued, “We won’t take any unjustified action against the family of political opponents.”

“I was compelled to leave Pakistan by fabricating cases in order to introduce a new political system,” Suleman Shehbaz claimed.

“Nobody likes to be banished, there was no hope for justice, and the bogus accusations levelled against me were the worst illustration yet of political resistance”, he added.

Suleman also said, “Former NAB chairman Javed Iqbal was blackmailed and cases were made against us. Pakistani resources were used carelessly to make cases against us in Pakistan and the UK.”

He said that he was in Saudi Arabia with his family for the performance of Umrah and will return to Pakistan on December 11.