An accountability court of Islamabad has granted interim bail to Bushra Bibi and barred the NAB from arresting her in the Toshakhana and 190-million-pound Al-Qadir Trust cases.
Imran Khan’s wife appeared in the court of duty judge Raja Jawab Abbas along with her counsel Latif Khosa for a pre-arrest bail.
The interim bail was granted in exchange for bonds worth Rs500,000 in each case and the hearing adjourned till October 31.
Cases against Imran, Bushra in sessions court
The Islamabad District and Sessions Court has put off the hearing in six cases against Imran Khan till October 24 and extended the interim bail of his wife Bushra Bibi in one case till October 31.
The court was hearing bail applications of the duo in seven cases.
Lawyer Salman Safdar appeared in the court of Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra on behalf of the suspects. He said the Islamabad High Court was approached for a collective bail in nine cases, adding that his client’s bail in six cases was rejected by the sessions court and three by the ATC.
Safdar also requested the court for the production orders of the PTI chief.
Judge Sipra remarked that the high court's judgment strongly mentions arrest twice. If Imran Khan had to be investigated, it could have been done so in Attock Jail.
To a court inquiry, the lawyer argued that if Bushra Bibi’s arrest was not required then her bail application would be withdrawn.
ATC adjourns hearing on bail
The Anti-Terrorism Court of Islamabad has put off hearing in the bail application of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in three cases till October 24 and sought the record of the cases.
Two of the cases are registered at the Khanna police station and one at Bhara Kahu.
During the hearing, lawyer Salman Safdar requested for the production orders of his client, Imran Khan, saying the Islamabad High Court has restored the bail applications and his appearance in court is mandatory in all three cases.
“Don't think you have the powers of an Official Secrets Act court also. When a bail application is filed, it is decided on merit. If the court thinks the production cannot be ensured today, then the hearing should be held tomorrow. Whether the client has to be brought by a helicopter or an armoured vehicle, it is the responsibility of the prison authorities,” the lawyer argued.
Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain said if the appearance of the suspect is a problem, the court hear the bail application where another case has to be heard tomorrow. This may be a pre-arrest bail application but the fact is the suspect is in jail.
The lawyer said they did not want the bail application to be heard in jail tomorrow.
The judge told him he would get the relief that he was entitled to.
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