Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was accorded warm welcome by thousands of PTI workers on reaching Zaman Park from Islamabad in the wee hours of Saturday after IHC had granted him bails in multiple cases including the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. A large number of PTI workers, dancing on drum beat, were present outside Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence to welcome their leader. The PTI zealots showered rose petals on Imran Khan on reaching Zaman Park from Islamabad.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday barred law enforcement agencies from arresting PTI chief Imran Khan in any case lodged against him across the country until Monday (May 15). Subsequently, the court granted him a 10-day transitory bail in cases lodged in Lahore. A two-member bench, comprising Justice Tariq Mehmood Jehangiri and Justice Ejaz Ishaq Khan, issued the order. It adds to the relief given to Mr Khan by the IHC including the court's orders to bar security forces from arresting Mr Khan in any case lodged after May 9 until May 17, and to stop proceedings in the Toshakhana case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against Mr Khan for allegedly concealing gifts.

One of the cases lodged in Lahore pertained to Ali Bilal alias Zille Shah's murder. Zille Shah was purportedly killed amid PTI's protests in Lahore with the Punjab police nominating Mr Khan and other PTI leaders in his murder case. On the other hand, the PTI claimed that Mr Shah had been murdered by police. Mr Khan had moved court for protective bails in four cases including Zille Shah’s murder case.

Relief in Al-Qadir Trust case

Earlier, the IHC granted him bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case, barring the authorities from arresting him till May 17. It comes a day after the Supreme Court had termed his arrest in the case "illegal" and ordered him to appear before the IHC to seek bail. A division bench comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz announced the ruling that is expected to cool down the tension in the country, which erupted following the arrest of the former premier.

A day ago, the apex court had ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to immediately set PTI chief Imran Khan at liberty after declaring his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case "illegal". A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, heard the case after the PTI had approached the apex court challenging IHC's decision of giving legal cover to the arrest Mr Khan in the case. The court subsequently ordered Mr Khan to approach the IHC - the court that had declared Mr Khan's arrest "legal" - by Friday and bound the PTI chief to follow the order of the court. However, the court did not quash the arrest warrants but raised questions on the way Mr Khan had been taken into custody.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP