Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday granted protective bail to PTI Chairman Imran Khan till next week in the prohibited funding case and directed him to approach the relevant court.
The PTI chief was granted bail against surety bonds of Rs5,000 till October 18 in the prohibited funding case registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) after he reached the court on the orders of Chief Justice Athar Minallah.
Once the hearing resumed, the additional attorney general contended that protective bail is granted in a case where the matter is of a different province. But Khan’s lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar told the court that they reached out to the high court as the special court had refused to hear the bail pleas of two of the suspects in the case.
“We had no other option but to reach out to the high court,” the lawyer told Justice Minallah. At this, the IHC CJ observed that the special court should hear the bail application in this case.
Upon hearing the remark, the government’s lawyer also admitted before the court that they were shocked over the special court’s decision.
The IHC CJ stated that if there is an issue his court will grant bail to the PTI chief till the case is taken up by the special court.
“We are approving protective bail,” said Justice Minallah. He added that the court would keep the case under trial at this time and will hear the plea if the problem is not resolved.
At this point, Khan’s lawyer Barrister Safdar started arguing on the merits of the case. However, Justice Minallah observed that the counsel wants to get the case dismissed.
“This is our wish,” the lawyer told the judge. However, he was informed by the judge that legal options for the dismissal of the case were in front of him.
