Imran Khan appears before court amid high drama, gets protective bail in one case

Pakistans former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday appeared before the Lahore High Court which granted him protective bail in a case linked to violent protests outside the election commission amidst high drama inside the court premises where hundreds of his supporters converged to show solidarity with himPakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI activists staged a violent protest after 70yearold Khan was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan ECP in the prohibited funding case last yearJustice Tariq Saleem Sheikh had directed Khan to appear before court for hearing of his protective bail petition in the caseA court official told PTI that a twomember bench of LHC led by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi granted the protective bail to the PTI chairman till March 3Khan appeared before the court and told him that he wanted to appear before it last week but doctors had advised him to rest as his leg wound would heal in over two weeks He also said he always respected the courts as he is an upholder of justice He said justice is also included in his partys name the official saidJustice Najafi appreciated Khan for submitting to the law The judge granted him protective bail till March 3 and refrained police and any other agency from arresting himAlso readImran Khan to launch Jail Bharo movement from next weekKhan evaded the PMLN governments plan to arrest him as he appeared before the court and secured the protective bail in the case in which he was booked under terrorism chargesA team of Federal Investigation Agency FIA and police were present on the federal coalition governments directive at the court premises to arrest Khan in case of denial of his bailThis was the first time Khan appeared before a court of law after he sustained bullet injuries in November last years attack on his rally in Punjab provinceThousands of workers of Khans party thronged the route of his Lahores residence to the LHC that made him cover a 10minute distance in more than two hoursKhans vehicle was showered with rose petals as it made its way inside the LHC premises with a large number of PTI supporters chanting slogans in his support and against the PMLNled coalition governmentAnd despite his arrival at the courts premises Khan could not manage to reach the courtroom in 90 minutes because of a crowd of the PTI workers Sporting a blue salwar kameez Khan got off his vehicle at 715 pm local time and reached the courtroom in heavy security coverThousands of people were present outside the LHC and there were hardly any security arrangementsAfter hearing the news of Khans protective bail a large number of PTI supporters present out the court chanted slogans in his favour and the judiciaryEarlier the Lahore High Court LHC had given Khan last chance to appear before court on Monday while hearing his protective bail petition in the case related to protests outside the ECPOn February 15 an Islamabad antiterrorism court on grounds of nonappearance had rejected Khans request for an extension in his interim bail in a case pertaining to violent protests outside the ECPInterestingly Khan was not present in the protest demonstration outside the ECP building in Islamabad but the government got him booked under terrorism chargesKhan has been residing in his Zaman Park residence in Lahore since an attempt was made on his life in November 3 in WazirabadThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever