The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has decided to extend the interim bail of PTI Chairman Imran Khan until May 31st. The case pertains to his alleged violation of Section 144 by holding a rally.
The court also approved Imran Khan’s request for exemption from appearance, but with a stern directive to ensure his presence in the next hearing. This development has left the fate of the prominent political figure hanging in the balance, as the court’s decision creates anticipation for the upcoming hearing.
Crackdown on PTI Leaders Intensifies:
In a separate but related matter, the crackdown on PTI leaders has intensified with a series of arrests and legal actions. Lahore High Court’s Justice Safdar Saleem Shahid sent a plea filed by Imran Khan to Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti for consideration by a larger bench. The plea seeks a fresh report containing any undisclosed or new FIRs registered against him after May 9th, the period of his alleged illegal detention with NAB. Imran Khan also requested the court to prevent his arrest in any case without prior permission.
The situation took a more chaotic turn as Shireen Mazari and Senator Falak Naz, PTI’s female leaders, were arrested and released multiple times. Despite a local court in Islamabad ordering their release, Mazari was rounded up again for the third time. Likewise, PTI spokesperson Maleeka Ali Bokhari faced a similar fate, being re-arrested shortly after her release from Adiala Jail and taken to an undisclosed location. Express News managed to obtain a video of Bokhari’s arrest, contradicting the police’s denial of the incident.
The Islamabad police had presented Mazari and Naz in the court of Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Shabbir with a request for their physical remand for three days. They cited charges of murder and brandishing weapons. However, after hearing the arguments from both sides, the court discharged the case against the PTI female leaders, delivering a relief amid the ongoing crackdown.