A high court in Pakistan on Wednesday granted bail to incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan in the second Toshakhana case. The Islamabad High Court after concluding the hearing, accepted Khan’s bail plea subject to furnishing two bonds of Rupees 10 lakh each. However, hours later, Rawalpindi police arrested Khan in connection with a case registered at New Town Police Station on terrorism and other charges.
Imran Khan’s hopes of being released from jail have once again been dashed after his bail acceptance had offered a ray of hope. A police spokesperson stated that an investigation team, led by SSP Investigation, is interrogating the PTI founder, Imran Khan. Khan will be presented before the court tomorrow to seek physical remand. The charges filed against Khan include violations of the Anti-Terrorism Act, defying the government ban on public gatherings, obstructing police duty, damaging police vehicles and endangering public safety.
Earlier Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, had been arrested in the Toshakhana case on July 13, hours after their acquittal in the Iddat case the same day. Bushra Bibi was given bail by the IHC on October 24 and she was released from jail. Now Imran Khan has secured bail in Toshakhana-II case on November 20. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) announced the verdict and ordered the release of former prime minister Imran Khan after his bail was approved against two surety bonds worth Rs 10 lacs each. Although he will remain in jail as his other cases drag on.
Khan has been implicated in dozens of cases since his government was dismissed through a no-confidence motion in 2022. He has since been incarcerated and behind bars, while his supporters and PTI leaders continue to fight for his freedom. Imran Khan had called for a protest against the government and establishment. In response the Pakistani authorities had announced a ban on public gatherings in the national capital for the next two months, as Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is looking to once again stage mass protests in support of their jailed leader.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Media Talk with Reporters at Adiala Jail:
(November 20, 2024)
Under no circumstances will our protest be canceled or postponed.
If there is tangible progress in negotiations with regards to our three demands, then the protests in Islamabad…
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 21, 2024
Pakistani media sources also reported that Khan needs to secure bail in nearly two dozen other cases registered across Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad before being released. According to Islamabad police, at least 62 cases were registered against Khan in various police stations of the capital while his PTI party said that another 54 cases were registered in Punjab province. In a statement on X, Imran Khan has gone on to assure that the planned protests on November 24 by PTI and his supporters will continue to take place inspite of the ban and imposition of section 144 by the government.
