The Lahore High Court has approved the PTI chairman’s protective bail till July 3, in a case involving the murder of a lawyer in Quetta.
A two-member bench of the LHC, comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Muhammad Amjad Rafiq hear the petition from Imran Khan on Wednesday.
The PTI chairman appeared before the court accompanied by his lawyer Ishtiaq Khan and others.
Imran Khan was booked as the main accused on June 7, in the murder of senior Supreme Court lawyer, Abdul Raazaq Shar.
The case was filed by the slain lawyer’s son, Siraj Ahmad Advocate in the Shaheed Jameel Kakar police station.
During the hearing, the former prime minister’s lawyer said that an FIR under section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code and section 7 of the anti-terrorism act (7ATA) has been registered against his client at the Shaheed Jameel Kakar police station in Quetta.
He read the FIR before the bench and raised concerns regarding the security of the PTI chairman.
He said that the PTI chief is willing to appear before the relevant court, but he fears an arrest by the police. The petitioner, therefore, requested a protective bail from the court.
The Punjab government’s lawyer said that the PTI chief could approach the relevant forum about the matter.
After hearing both parties’ arguments, the court approved the protective bail of the PTI chairman till July 3.
On June 15, an anti-terrorism court in Quetta issued an arrest warrant for the PTI chief in the lawyer Abdul Raazaq Shar’s murder case.
The lawyer was killed on Quetta’s Airport Road after unidentified men on a motorcycle fired at him with a 9mm pistol. Of the 16 bullets fired, seven struck him in the head.
The joint investigation team (JIT) on Core Commander House Lahore (also known as Jinnah House) attack case has summoned PTI chief Imran Khan and four others.
The JIT on Wednesday, summoned the PTI chief, his wife Bushra Bibi, PTI leaders Hammad Azhar, Hassan Khan Niazi and Murad Saeed accused in the case.
The accused were directed to appear before the JIT at the DIG Investigation Officer, today (June, 21) on 7pm.
The JIT instructed the accused to appear before the team in a case registered in Server Road police station on May 10. The case included charges of vandalism, arson, and terrorism.
The JIT also directed the SPs of Civil Line and Model Town to ensure the appearance of PTI chief along with the other five suspects.
Violent protesters burned and destroyed public buildings and military installations on May 9 after the PTI chief was arrested by the Rangers from the court premises.