By 
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court resumed hearings on Thursday on a petition seeking an extension of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s bail on seven terror-related charges.
On the previous hearing, the former premier appeared before a two-member bench led by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, amid tight security following a warning of bail revocation for his continuous absence from court.
Security has been beefed up around the IHC in preparation for Imran Khan’s appearance, who arrived in the federal capital this morning from Lahore to get interim bail.
A large police presence has been stationed outside the court, along with barbed wire and containers to maintain law and order.
The police have also prohibited unrelated individuals from entering the IHC.
The district government has undertaken extensive security precautions to safeguard Khan’s safety, while attorneys and journalists will be able to enter courtroom No. 1 via a special pass.
Only 15 lawyers will be permitted to accompany Khan inside the courtroom, and only ten lawyers from the attorney general’s and advocate general’s offices will be permitted to attend the hearing.
While hearing Khan’s bail applications in two separate cases involving threatening officers of the armed forces and the attempted murder of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha on Wednesday, Chief Justice Aamer Farooq stated that the law was very clear and equal for all.
“There was no precedent of exemption from appearance during bail hearings in a bail petition.”
Khan missed yesterday’s session owing to pain and swelling in his leg, according to his lawyer, Barrister Salman Safdar. However, after seeing no leniency from the bench, the lawyer assured the court that the PTI chief would appear in court today, even if in an ambulance.
Imran Khan appears in court despite leg pain.
While the party chairman was leaving for Islamabad, PTI released a shot video statement of him.
“[We] respect the courts, so we will appear [before the court] despite the pain and swelling in my leg,” Khan, who was waiting to be carried to the car, added.
He stated that he was not like “those who create propaganda against the judges” if a favorable verdict was not reached.
Khan further claimed that he had alerted the Lahore High Court (LHC) of an attempt on his life.
“Once in Wazirabad and again on March 18 in the Judicial Complex,” he continued.
PTI president then asked people to take to the streets in solidarity with Pakistan’s president Justice (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial.
“The mafia is hell-bent against the chief justice,” he added, adding that “the mafia” had divided the Supreme Court (SC) and was breaking the law.
He also chastised the incumbent government for “running from the elections,” which were expected to take place within 90 days of the legislatures’ dissolution.
