Islamabad courts reject nine bail pleas of jailed leader Imran Khan

Pakistan's local courts in Islamabad have dismissed nine petitions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Tuesday, August 15. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman had sought bail in connection with the First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against him over violent protests, reported Dawn.  

Notably, this comes after the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Islamabad denied three bail petitions of Imran Khan earlier. Further, the Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Mohammad Sohail rejected six petitions that were aiming for pre-arrest bail for Khan. The FIR against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman has been registered in the Khanna and Barakahu Police Stations.

The arrest of the PTI head in a corruption case on May 9 this year sparked violent rallies, with party members destroying defence and military areas around the nation. This was followed by the detaining of hundreds of PTI members and officials for suspected rioting participation, while police accused the former premier of masterminding the violent rallies.

Islamabad court throws out Imran Khan’s plea, denies bail 

While rejecting Imran Khan's plea for bail, Judge Muhammad Sohail said that Khan's bail could not be extended in light of the Supreme Court verdict, reported Geo News. According to the local media reports, out of these 9, six of them have been registered against the incarcerated PTI chief in Karachi Company, Ramna, Kohsar, Tarnool and Secretariat police stations of the federal capital.

Further, the Judge ordered the verdict and said, "It would be convenient if the former prime minister who was removed from power via a parliamentary vote last year, joined the investigation related to the cases." However, Judge Sohail expanded  Khan's wife Bushra Bibi's interim bail in a case related to the bogus receipt of Toshakhana gifts till September 7,  as per Dawn reports. 

Recently, the ousted Prime Minister of Pakistan was put behind bars at Attock Jail earlier this month, in C-class conditions. He was jailed after he was found guilty of concealing proceeds of Toshakhana (state depository) gifts that he received from foreign dignitaries as the prime minister of the country from 2018 to 2022. Khan has been sentenced to three years and would have to pay a Rs100,000 fine, after the trial. Khan has also been disqualified for five years by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) which would bar him from holding public office.