Title: Imran gets relief as ATC, banking court approve bail pleas
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Former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan got relief on Tuesday as an anti-terrorism court (ATC) and a banking court approved Imran's bail pleas.
The PTI chairman reached Islamabad's judicial complex today to appear before courts in multiple cases.
The ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan approved Imran's request for interim bail until March 9.
Prohibited funding case
Banking court judge Rakhshanda Shaheen approved the PTI chief's request for bail.
Ahead of Imran Khan's appearance in the prohibited funding case, the banking court rescheduled all other cases fixed for hearing on Tuesday.
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The PTI chairman seeks bail in the case filed against him and other party leaders by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Commercial banking Circle in Islamabad under the Foreign Exchange Act after they were accused of being the beneficiaries of suspicious bank accounts.
The FIA has claimed that Abraaj Group for one had transferred $2.1 million to the bank accounts of the PTI.
The agency kicked off its probe against the PTI in August this year after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had declared in its verdict that the party had indeed received illegal funding.
The case had been filed by PTI's founding but disgruntled member Akbar S Babar and had been pending since November 14, 2014.
The written order of the ECP stated that the political party had received illegal funds from foreign countries including the US, UAE, UK and Australia.
During the previous proceedings, the banking court judge had dismissed Imran's request for leave and ordered him to appear before the court.
However, the PTI chief's legal team had succeeded in securing relief from the Islamabad High Cout until February 22 whereby the banking court had been prevented from cancelling Imran's bail temporarily.
Toshakhana case
Meanwhile, during proceedings at a criminal court over the Toshakhana (gift repository) reference earlier today, Imran's lawyers requested Additional Sessions Judge Zaffar Iqbal to postpone the hearing by another five days.
However, the ECP lawyer contested the request saying "it is of no concern to the court where Imran is coming from" as he questioned that if the PTI chief could appear in other courts, why not this one?
Read More Court accepts Imran's exemption plea in case related to Toshakhana
Imran's lawyer argued that "I am unable to present Imran Khan before the court" but "if he manages to get out of the judicial complex in time, then we will appear before the court".
Judge Iqbal, irked by the lawyer's statement expressed his dismay that Imran could appear before other courts in the judicial complex but not in this one.
"Charges are going to be framed here so he should appear here and then once they have been framed he may leave," said the judge.
The court then declared Imran's appearance in court necessary and rejected his lawyer's request for postponement.
Imran in the capital
With the former prime minister all set to appear before the court today, a heavy contingency of FIA was seen in the judicial complex.
An armoured vehicle and a prison van were also seen parked outside the judicial complex.
Large crowds were seen around G-13 bridge as per PTI's Twitter account.
Kaptaan’s welcome, all set at G-13 bridge. Awami tsunami!! #????_??_?????_?????_???? pic.twitter.com/y3OhAKYkZz
— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 28, 2023
Imran's vehicle is presently stuck in a traffic jam caused by the crowds that have gathered to welcome him to the capital.
Earlier today, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry had expressed his reservations about the "security threat" under these circumstances as well.
????? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ???????? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ????? ??? ??? ?? ??? ?? ????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ??
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 28, 2023
"The life of Imran Khan and the thousands that will surround him will be put at risk in all the courts that he will be dragged through today over false cases," he said, "attendance was possible through video link. But the aim is to play with Imran Khan's life".
Published Date: 28-Feb-2023
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