LHC grants protective bail to Imran Khan in ECP protest case

LAHORE: Soon after his court appearance followed by a number of adjournments, the Lahore High Court (LHC) finally on Monday granted interim protective bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan till March 3 in a terror case registered against him over alleged vandalism during protests in Islamabad against his disqualification by the Election commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The ousted prime minister, who was removed from power via a no-confidence move, was booked in the terror case in October last year after the Toshakhana verdict was announced by the ECP, sparking countrywide protests.

On February 16, a two-member bench of the LHC had threw out Khan’s plea seeking protective bail in a terror case registered against him over alleged vandalism during the protests in Islamabad against his disqualification by the ECP over his non-appearance.

The FIR stated that the PTI activists pelted stones at the police, FC, and administration officials, injuring several. It stated that the protesters tried to ram their cars into police with the intention of murder, set trees on fire in Faizabad and the surrounding areas and tried to harm government property. The terror case was lodged on the state’s behalf at Islamabad’s Sangjani police station.

Earlier today, Khan’s counsel filed another plea seeking the PTI chief’s interim protective bail in the case. The court fixed for hearing today.