Imran gets protective bail from LHC in 2 terrorism cases

Pakistan’s ousted premier Imran Khan on Tuesday secured protective bail from the Lahore High Court in three cases, including two related to terrorism, registered against him over the violence that took place outside the judicial complex in Islamabad last week. A two-judge bench comprising Justice Shehbaz Rizvi and Justice Farooq Haider granted protective bail to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief in the terrorism cases till March 27. The former premier also appeared before the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Justice Baqir Naqvi in the NAB investigation in Toshakhana case. The court granted him protective bail till next Tuesday. ”Mr Khan told the court today that he came to the court ‘secretly’ as a heavy contingent of police was deployed near to his house to stop him from reaching the court,” a court official told PTI after the hearing. Khan, 70, said he has no issue to appear in any case but during his appearance in court the government should make sure no chaos is created. The number of cases registered against the PTI chief in the last 11 months of the PMLN-led government has swelled to around 100. Unlike his recent appearances in courts, Khan on Tuesday was not accompained by party workers to the LHC from his Zaman Park residence here. The PTI appears to have changed its strategy on Tuesday regarding sending a huge number of its workers along with the party chairman to the LHC apparently after the law enforcement agencies intensified crackdown on them. The Punjab and Islamabad police have arrested over 500 PTI workers from different parts of the province. Police said the arrested PTI workers were wanted in the recent incidents of violence in Lahore and Islamabad. Khan appeared before the LHC in two terrorism cases registered against him by the Islamabad police after intense clashes erupted outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex on Saturday when he arrived in the capital from Lahore to attend the hearing in the Toshakhana case.