by India Today World DeskFormer Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was dramatically arrested on May 9, was on Friday granted bail for two weeks by the Islamabad High Court in a corruption case. After a while, the court said that he cannot be arrested for the time being in some pending cases against him.
Many of the decisions came as the government and forces of Imran Khan’s supporters were on edge after days of violent confrontation following the arrest of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief.
The government has vowed it will find a way to take Imran Khan back into custody, a move that could spark a resurgence of violence in Pakistan.
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Here’s what transpired in the Islamabad High Court today:
After a brief hearing, a special bench of the Islamabad High Court granted protective bail for two weeks to Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The court also ordered that the former Prime Minister of Pakistan should not be arrested till May 17 in any case registered in Islamabad after May 9. Also ordered the officials to provide ‘foolproof security’ to Imran Khan.
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However, Imran Khan remained in court after the verdict as his lawyers petitioned judges for similar protection in several other cases, seeking to close legal avenues for the government to arrest him again.
The Islamabad High Court had then ordered that till Monday, May 15, Imran Khan could not be arrested in any case registered against him across Pakistan.
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Imran Khan was removed as prime minister last year by a no-confidence vote in parliament and is now leading the opposition. He faces more than 100 legal cases, most involving allegations that he incited violence and threatened police and government officials.
He also faces at least three corruption counts, including allegations by the National Accountability Bureau that he accepted millions of dollars in wealth in exchange for providing benefits to a real estate tycoon. Following his arrest, a fresh charge of terrorism was filed against him for allegedly inciting his followers to violence.
After getting the written order from the court, Imran Khan will leave for his residence Bani Gala in Islamabad.
(With inputs from AFP, AP, Dawn)
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