Pakistan’s former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan has been granted bail for two weeks in the Al-Qadir trust case. He was granted bail after a hearing in the Islamabad High Court on Friday (May 12).
The Al-Qadir Trust case was heard by a division bench of the Islamabad High Court. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court ordered Imran’s arrest to appear in the High Court as illegal.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz granted Imran’s bail after hearing.
Imran’s lawyers presented four more petitions to the High Court, Dawn News TV said.
Two hours later, Imran’s bail hearing began. According to the media, security was increased in the court premises during the hearing.
The PTI chairman arrived at the court shortly after 11:30 am through tight security and completed the biometrics. Video footage aired on TV showed police and ranger officials stationed outside the court premises.
The video footage also showed several lawyers shouting slogans in solidarity with Imran outside the Islamabad High Court premises.
The hearing resumed on Friday after a break for Friday prayers. Imran was accompanied by his lawyers in the courtroom during the hearing. Advocate Khawaja Haris presented the arguments.
Haris told the court that the action taken by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was illegal.
The court asked NAB’s counsel and Imran’s lawyers to be ready for the next hearing. The court said, then it will be decided whether Imran’s bail will be canceled or the bail period will be extended.
Imran suffered a head injury during the arrest
Imran Khan said in an informal talk with reporters at the Islamabad High Court that the NB officials were in a hurry even though they were treating him well. He was hit on the head while being arrested.
Later he said that he could not communicate with his wife Bushra Bibi. Imran said, I told the NAB team that I want to talk to him. They let me talk through the landline.
Regarding the violence across the country, he said, “How could I have stopped what happened?” I told that there will be reaction to the arrest. I was taken into custody. How am I responsible?
In a video shared by Independent Urdu, Imran said, I was sitting in the High Court. There was no reason to arrest me. I was kidnapped.
Last Tuesday (May 9), former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court in the Al-Qadir Trust case. On Wednesday (May 10), the court granted his eight-day remand. He has also been accused in the Toshakhana case.
Imran’s arrest has sparked protests in Pakistan. Imran’s supporters are protesting by blocking the road. They attacked various establishments including the cantonment. So far more than 1500 people have been arrested, eight people have died.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan heard an appeal on the legality of Imran Khan’s arrest. In the hearing, the court called Imran’s arrest illegal. On this day, the court ordered Imran to stay in the guest house and asked him to appear in court on Friday.
