Imran Khan gets 2-week bail, day after Pakistan Supreme Court called his arrest illegal
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Imran Khan gets 2-week bail, day after Pakistan Supreme Court called his arrest illegal

Islamabad High Court sets Khan free in Al-Qadir Trust case for the time being; the PTI chief is also indicted in the Toshakhana case.

   
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan | Photo: ANI

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan | Photo: ANI

New Delhi: A division bench of the Islamabad High Court on Friday granted former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan two weeks bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case, a day after the country’s top court called his arrest “invalid and unlawful”.

The court also barred authorities from arresting Khan till 17 May in any case registered in the jurisdiction of Islamabad since Wednesday.

The bench of Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz heard the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman’s bail plea in the afternoon.

Khan arrived in court a little after 11.30 am, amid tight security as a large number of lawyers shouted slogans in his favour.

After the bail, he was free to go – at least in the Al-Qadir Trust case for which he was arrested by Pakistani Rangers on 9 May.

The investigating agency, National Accountability Bureau, was earlier given Khan’s custody for eight days in the case where Khan is charged with causing a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer.

A day after his arrest, another court indicted Khan in the Toshakhana case — for unlawfully selling state gifts during his premiership.

In this case – over a 100 cases are registered against Khan – the former Prime Minister is accused of not disclosing information on gifts presented to the state depository and their alleged sale.

In March, the police had failed to arrest Imran Khan for these charges amid clashes with PTI supporters in front of the politician’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore.


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