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LAHORE: The Lahore High Court registrar’s office on Wednesday refused to schedule a hearing for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan’s petition for protective bail in three criminal cases without the petitioner’s personal appearance.
Khan sought protective bail in two FIRs filed with the Ramna police station in Islamabad and the Bijli Road police station in Quetta.
The former prime minister’s legal team requested that the petitions be heard immediately by the registrar’s office.
However, the office denied the request, instructing the lawyers to first ensure the petitioner’s personal appearance.
“All of the judges have now left. Will they return to court to hear your petitions?” an additional registrar inquired of the lawyers.
The official reminded the lawyers that the office had previously scheduled a hearing for Khan’s petition, but he did not appear in court.
“Bring the petitioner here. “We will schedule a hearing for the petition,” the official assured the lawyers.
According to the lawyers, Khan was unable to appear in court because section 144 had been imposed in the city and his Zaman Park residence had been cordoned off by police.
Later, the lawyers filed a petition on behalf of PTI leader Hammad Azhar, challenging the city’s implementation of Section 144.
The hearing of the petition before Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh has been scheduled for Thursday (today).
Azhar claims that the government issued an illegal and unlawful order imposing Section 144 and preventing him from holding the rally in connection with his election campaign.
