Show up or face bail cancellation, IHC tells Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Wednesday extended former prime minister Imran Khan’s interim bail in nine cases till tomorrow, with a warning that the bail granted to the latter will be dismissed if he fails to appear before the court on, ARY News reported.

Hearing the case, IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq Imran’s counsel Salman Safdar request for an extension in exemption by another three to four days.

“The medical report submitted to the court is from a private hospital, why don’t you get an examination from a government hospital?’ the court questioned.

“Imran Khan had been receiving treatment from Shaukat Khanum Hospital since day one,” Safdar told the court and added, “We are ready to get a medical exam conducted from a government hospital also”.

Subsequently, the IHC extended Imran Khan’s interim bail till tomorrow and ordered him to appear before the court on May 4.

Earlier in the day, the court had expressed annoyance over the non-appearance of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in inciting mutiny case.

Hearing the case, IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq warned that if Imran Khan did not appear before the IHC in inciting mutiny case during working hours, the interim bail granted to him will be dismissed.

As the hearing began, IHC Chief Justice Amir Farooq inquired where was the petitioner. At this, Lawyer Naeem Haider Panjotha said that he could not appear before so he had filed an exemption plea.

The IHC chief justice then asked about the exemption request. To this, the lawyer replied that the application had been filed.

The Chief Justice remarked that if petitioner Imran Khan did not appear before the court within working hours, the interim bail will be cancelled.

During the hearing, the prosecution argued that Imran had repeatedly failed to appear before the court despite being served several notices. The defense counsel, on the other hand, claimed that Imran was suffering from a medical condition and was unable to attend the proceedings.

“They are making fun of the courts. They are taking the high court as a civil court. Either we have come down or they have come up,” he remarked.

Justice Amir Farooq, after hearing both sides, remarked that the court had the power to revoke the bail if the accused failed to fulfil its conditions.

Ahead of the PTI chief’s possible appearance, strict security arrangements were made by the district administration and the police outside the court.