IHC stops banking court from issuing verdict on Imran Khan’s bail plea

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday stopped a banking court from issuing a verdict on Imran’s bail plea in the FIA prohibited funding case, ARY News reported.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, issued the order on a PTI petition challenging the banking court’s dismissal of its request for proceedings via video link.

After hearing arguments, the IHC instructed Imran to submit fresh medical reports and stopped the banking court from taking further action in the case till Feb 22.

At previous hearing, the banking court on Wednesday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s plea for exemption from personal attendance and ordered him to appear before the court by 3:30pm in the prohibited funding case.

Special Judge Banking Court Rakhshanda Shaheen rejected Imran Khan’s plea seeking exemption from appearance in the funding case.

Imran Khan’s lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar appeared before the judge alongside PTI leaders Shibli Faraz, Azam Swati, Faisal Javed, Senator Saifullah Niazi, Aamir Kayani and others.

At the outset of the hearing, Barrister Safdar submitted Imran Khan’s exemption plea in the prohibited funding case on medical grounds to the court.

“Imran Khan is over 70 years old and he is still recovering from a bullet wound on his leg,” he said and urged the court to grant him another three weeks’ time.

After the completion of arguments, the judge dismissed Imran’s request for leave and ordered him to appear before the court today at 3:30pm.

The PTI chief had secured bail in a case registered under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act in October last year.

READ: COURT EXTENDS IMRAN KHAN’S INTERIM BAIL IN PROHIBITED FUNDING CASE

The banking court on Dec 31 had rejected Khan’s plea for attending the hearing of the prohibited funding case via video link. The banking court gave final chance to Imran Khan to appear to attend the hearing.

The banking court judge said if the PTI chief Imran Khan didn’t present before the court on February 15 or if a new plea is presented, then the court will suspend his bail.

However, the bail is now to be cancelled if the PTI chief fails to ensure his appearance in court today (Wednesday).

The PTI chief had challenged the banking court’s order that was issued on January 31.

The case

It is pertinent to note here that the Investigation Agency had registered a case against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and 10 others over accusations of receiving foreign funding. The case had been registered by the FIA Corporate Banking Circle.

The case’s First Information Report (FIR) stated that the accused including the former premier violated Foreign Exchange Act and all of the nominated persons were beneficiaries of the private bank account.