ISLAMABAD – An anti-terrorism court on Thursday granted pre-arrest bail to former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in a case filed against him over threatening comments against a female judge.
Session judge Raja Jawwad Abbas heard the case and granted bail to the PTI chief against surety bonds worth Rs100,000.
Khan appeared before the court in person amid tight security while a huge number of PTI supporters were present outside the court.
During the hearing, Khan’s counsel Babar Awan argued that his client had warned of an action against the female judge and not hurled threat of killing her. He said that a magistrate was a complainant in the case as the three persons named by Imran Khan in his speech did not lodge any case.
After hearing the arguments, the judge barred the police from arresting Imran Khan and granted him bail in the case.
Khan’s lawyers appealed for pre-arrest bail earlier this week at the Islamabad High Court, which granted him protective bail until Thursday.
The political temperature soared lately as the country’s populist leader was booked under anti-terrorism laws after making a provocative speech in which he singled out senior police officials and a female judge who approved the remand of Shahbaz Gill.
PTI chief, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote earlier his year, could be disqualified for life from politics if convicted in a terrorism case. The charge under 7ATA also carries 14 years in prison or the equivalent of a life sentence.
Khan recently revealed that he was about to get arrested in the wee hours, however, party leaders mobilised supporters and workers to flock near his residence in the capital.
Unjust laws’ – International watchdog raises concerns after Imran Khan booked in terror case
Since getting ousted from the premiership, the PTI chief has claimed that the ruling alliance took part in a foreign plot to oust him from power.
Ex-PM Imran Khan booked under Anti-Terrorism Act over provocative speech
