LAHORE: A special anti-terrorism court (ATC) ordered Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Tuesday to appear before it at 11 am after he failed to show up at the start of the hearing, of interim bail applications in three cases.
The PTI chief had filed petitions for bail in three FIRs registered with the Race Course police station under different charges, including an alleged attack on police officials and setting ablaze state properties in the Zaman Park area.
Earlier, the court had granted Imran bail till April 4 (today) and restrained the police from arresting him. Today, the hearing resumed with Imran absent from the court.
The application was heard by the duty judge of the court, and the former premier’s counsel informed the court that Imran faces very serious security threats.
When the court inquired if Imran would be informed that he has to appear, his lawyer argued that two prime ministers have been killed in Pakistan’s history. He requested the court to give Imran time till 1:30 pm to appear before the court.
However, the court ordered that Imran appear by 11 am, maintaining that a decision will be taken as per the law even if the PTI chief fails to appear. The court remarked that relief would only be given to those who appear before the court.
On the other hand, the ATC rejected PTI leader Hamad Azhar’s interim bail application on grounds of non-compliance.
The court also rejected the interim bail of Fawad Chaudhry in the case of arson, violence against the police and interference in government functions on the grounds of non-compliance.
