The Banking Court’s attempt to revoke Imran’s bail is temporarily halted by the IHC.
After the banking court’s rejection of the PTI chief’s plea, the court grants him medical leave until February 22.
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday stopped a financial court from revoking Imran Khan’s bail and extended it till February 22.
The legal team for the PTI chairman had appealed to the high court a ruling made earlier today by a lower court that required the former premier to appear before the court at 3:30 pm.
In a hearing that was conducted by Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Imran’s attorney asked the high court in Islamabad to intervene in a case involving banned funds that was brought before a banking court.
The PTI leader requested leave from the court twice before the incident and six times after it, the attorney said, adding that the interim bail was acquired on October 17 and the Wazirabad incident occurred on November 3.
Are you suggesting that 70 is a ripe old age? Justice Kayani asked with a smile.
The former prime minister “never shied away from coming before courts, but now the medical grounds are for all to see,” Imran’s attorney insisted, adding that at this age, wounds take longer to heal.
The court delayed the banking court’s announcement of its decision until February 22 in order to obtain a copy of the PTI chief’s medical report.
After a brief intermission, the judge in the financial court postponed the hearing after being notified of the development at the IHC.
The hearing was postponed till Saturday after the judge stated, “I have confirmed,” that “we have been prohibited from announcing the verdict.”
The financial court must receive a certified copy of the IHC decision by February 18th.
Banking court denies the claim of exemption
Imran was told to appear before the court by 3:30pm after the banking court in Islamabad rejected his request for an exemption from presence earlier today.
Judge Rakhshanda Shaheen of the Banking Court heard the case of illegal funding brought against Imran Khan and others.
During the hearings, PTI officials Shibli Faraz, Azam Swati, Faisal Javed, Senator Saifullah Niazi, Aamir Kayani, and others appeared before the judge alongside Imran Khan’s attorney, Barrister Salman Safdar.
The judge asked everyone in the courtroom to leave at the beginning of the session, with the exception of the petitioner’s attorney.
Imran’s medical leave of absence was requested by Barrister Safdar and was presented to the court.
Imran’s attorney stated that if the judge would hear their appeal and “provide relief on the subject,” the high court case would not be pursued after the judge noted that Imran’s legal team had disputed her prior ruling in the high court.
She said, “You have disputed my order, so by all means, pursue it.
The court was encouraged to maintain “an open mind” by Barrister Safdar.
Imran Khan is over 70 years old, the attorney claimed, adding that his client was still suffering from a leg wound caused by a gunshot. He pleaded with the court to give him a further three weeks.
Should the court deny the plea, the attorney further stated that the court would have to state in writing that “our medical report is inaccurate, and that Imran Khan was not shot.”
He also emphasised that Imran was not currently in the capital and voiced concern that he might be arrested if the ousted premier’s bail were to be revoked.
Later, the co-accused PTI financier Tariq Shafi’s attorney tried to submit his case but was stopped by the court.
See also Imran skips ATC appearance in ECP protest case
“The judge remarked, “You are making an irrelevant point. This is a case about bail. I won’t make any further comments; it will continue to be a bail case “.
Rizwan Abbasi, a special prosecutor, disagreed with Imran’s plea for a leave of absence.
The judge refused Imran’s request for leave and directed him to appear in court after hearing the special prosecutor’s arguments.
Remember that the PTI leader had earlier obtained bail in the case filed under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act in October of last year.
However, if the PTI leader does not ensure his appearance in court today, the bail will now be revoked (Wednesday).
Sources claim that Imran Khan’s legal team has contacted them and they have informed them that it will not be possible for the PTI leader to appear in court today.
It is the
PTI leaders, including party chairman Imran Khan, the party’s financial team, and a private bank manager, had been detained by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in connection with the case involving illegal funding.
The FIA Commercial Banking Circle in Islamabad filed the lawsuit.
A first information report (FIR) claims that the former leaders of the ruling party broke the Foreign Exchange Act and were identified as the owners of suspicious bank accounts.
According to the FIA, the Abraaj Group also wired $2.1 million to the PTI’s bank accounts.
After the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ruled that the PTI had indeed received illicit funds, the body began its investigation into the party in August of this year.
Akbar S. Babar, a founding member of PTI who is now disillusioned, had filed the lawsuit, which has been pending since November 14, 2014.
The political party has received unlawful funding from other nations, including the US, UAE, UK, and Australia, according to the ECP’s written order.
The PTI leader, on the other hand, had argued that the FIA had abused its authority by hastily filing the case and that the case was filed on the basis of the prejudiced and unreliable ECP report.
