By: Kimberly Rodrigues
Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been granted interim bail until May 4 by an anti-terrorism court in Lahore.
The bail is related to three cases involving violent clashes between Khan’s supporters and the police during an operation to arrest the former prime minister in the Toshakhana corruption case last month.
The Lahore Anti-terrorism Court (ATC) has allowed one-time permission for Khan to appear for the hearing via video link.
Khan had filed petitions for bail in three FIRs registered under anti-terrorism laws at the Race Course police station in Lahore.
Amidst claims that his life is in danger, Imran Khan, 70, has been avoiding attending court hearings.
During a recent hearing at the Anti-terrorism court (ATC), Judge Ejaz Ahmad Bhutta asked Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, what had caused the threat to his client’s life. In response, Safdar pointed out that those responsible for the gun attack on Khan in November 2020 could provide an answer.
He also warned that if Khan were to be assassinated, it could lead to chaos in Pakistan similar to the aftermath of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s murder.
According to Safdar, there are credible reports that his client may be targeted by snipers on his way to court. The lawyer cited law enforcement agencies as the source of this information. Khan had survived an assassination attempt in November last year.
Following the hearing, the court granted Khan’s request to attend his next hearing via video link and extended his pre-arrest bail until May 4.
Khan and his party workers were booked by Lahore police in three terrorism cases during clashes with police last month in an operation to arrest him in the Toshakhana corruption case.
He is facing corruption charges for selling gifts he received as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Khan was disqualified by the Election Commission for not disclosing the sales and now faces criminal charges. However, Khan denies the allegations.
Another case involves the killing of a PTI worker in which Khan was booked for attempted murder.
Khan, the former cricketer-turned-politician, is currently facing more than 140 cases on charges such as treason, terrorism, murder, attempted murder, and blasphemy.
He was removed from power in April last year through a no-confidence vote, which he claimed was a US-led plot against him due to his foreign policy decisions regarding Russia, China, and Afghanistan.
Following his removal from power, Khan has been advocating for early elections to replace the “imported government” led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Sharif, on the other hand, has stated that elections will take place later this year after the completion of the parliament’s five-year tenure.
(With inputs from PTI)
