Bail plea: LHC warns of issuing contempt notice to Imran Khan

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday warned of issuing a contempt notice to former prime minister Imran Khan on a petition seeking protective bail in a case pertaining to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), ARY News reported.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh passed these marks after taking notice of different signatures of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on the affidavit and power of attorney submitted in the court.

At the outset of the hearing, former premier’s counsel, advocate Azhar Siddiq informed the court that they are pondering over issues pertaining to Imran’s health and security.

“Former prime minister is meeting with his doctors,” he said and assured the court that Imran would be in court.

“We request the court to give us some time,” prayed the counsel.

The LHC then adjourned the hearing till 12:30pm after Imran’s lawyer Azhar Siddique requested for some time.

When the hearing resumed, Siddiqui once against sought more time.

Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned for another 90 minutes.

When the hearing resumed at 4pm, Imran’s counsel Siddiqui told LHC that his client wanted to withdraw the bail application as the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had already granted relief to Imran.

At this, the judge observed that the PTI chief’s signatures on the affidavit and power of attorney were different.

“This is a very important matter … I will issue contempt of court notice to you or your client,” he warned and adjourned the proceedings again by 6:30pm.

The former premier had filed a petition in Lahore High Court (LHC), seeking protective bail after the banking court in Islamabad rejected Imran’s bail in a case pertaining to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) following his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference.

During yesterday’s proceedings, the LHC judge remarked that the politician should be brought to the court on a stretcher if he cannot walk. The judge also stopped Khan’s counsel Azhar Siddiq Advocate from giving arguments.

Azhar Siddiq said that Imran Khan contacted him via telephone and he will submit the power of attorney on Thursday morning.

Later, the high court adjourned the hearing of Imran Khan’s protective bail plea by tomorrow.

ATC rejects bail plea

On Wednesday, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) rejected Imran Khan’s interim bail after he failed to appear before the court in a case pertaining to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan announced the verdict over the non-appearance of former premier in the ECP protest case.

The court rejected Imran’s request for exemption from appearance on medical grounds and directed him to appear in person by 1:30 pm.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman was on interim bail in the case and the court provided him with the opportunity to appear before it today. Babar Awan requested the court to extend his client’s bail till Feb 27 as the additional sessions judge had granted Imran’s interim bail till Feb 27.

At the previous hearing, the court had granted the PTI chief the last opportunity to appear on Feb 15.