Judge also grants Bushra Bibi pre-arrest bail in Ramna protest and vandalism case on Rs 50,000 bail
Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka heard six pre-arrest bail applications of the PTI founder and one of Bushra Bibi. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
A local court in Islamabad on Tuesday approved the pre-arrest bail pleas of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and former first lady Bushra Bibi in several cases.
Both were released on bail against sureties of Rs 50,000 each. Bushra Bibi was also granted bail before his arrest in another case linked to protests.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka heard six pre-arrest bail applications of the PTI founder and one of Bushra Bibi. The PTI founder is facing cases related to May 9 incidents, Azadi March, attempted murder, vandalism, arson and alleged fake receipts from Toshakhana, while Bushra Bibi is facing a case related to Toshakhana registered at Kohsar police station.
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During the proceedings, the prosecution argued that there was substantial evidence against the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi, saying they were not entitled to bail and asking for their applications to be rejected.
Lawyer Salman Safdar, representing the accused, argued that these were the first pre-arrest bail applications in his and the court’s experience that had faced such long delays.
He noted that 63 adjournments had been granted to the state, the court had ordered the prison authorities to produce the PTI founder 30 times but he had not been produced and five show cause notices had been issued to the superintendent.
Safdar stressed that bail requests were based on merit and not medical reasons, and pointed out that with the exception of the May 9 case, no previous bail requests had ever been rejected. He also noted that some complaints appeared to have been made for purposes of intimidation, without any formal charges being made.
After hearing the arguments, the court approved the pre-arrest bail of PTI founder and Bushra Bibi.
Meanwhile, Additional District and Sessions Judge Amir Zia also granted pre-arrest bail to Bushra Bibi in a protest and vandalism case registered at Ramna police station, allowing bail against a surety of Rs 50,000.
