Al-Qadir Trust case: Islamabad court extends Imran’s bail till June 19

An Accountability Court in Islamabad on Wednesday extended Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s bail in Al-Qadir Trust case till June 19.

The bail was extended against surety bonds worth Rs500,000.

Earlier on Wednesday, a division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) extended the bail of former PM in Al-Qadir Trust case for three days.

Imran was arrested from the IHC premises on May 9, which triggered violent protests across the country. Later, the high court barred authorities from arresting the PTI chief in various cases registered throughout the country until May 15.

The IHC had then again extended the restriction on arrest until May 31 (today).

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the PTI chief was granted bail on a new charge of abetting violence against the military by his protesting supporters.

His lawyer, Intezar Hussain Punjotha, said an anti-terrorism court confirmed the bail on the new charge after the former premier appeared before it and submitted surety bonds.

The bail until June 2 on the new charge means he will not be detained on that charge.

Imran who is embroiled in a confrontation with the powerful military, said on Tuesday that a strong government was not the one that has the establishment’s support but the one that has the support of the people.

“Only a government that comes with the public mandate can make big decisions, bring reforms and instate the rule of law,” he said while addressing his supporters via video link.

He added that the country would not survive without the rule of law.

Imran said all institutions were being used to eliminate his party. He said the “fascist regime” was pushing hard to dismantle PTI.

However, they could not break away more than “a few people” despite all their efforts.