Islamabad HC bars Imran's arrest in cases across Pakistan till Monday

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday barred authorities from arresting PTI Chairman Imran Khan in cases – including those that are undisclosed – registered across the country until 15 May.

The court also granted protective bail to the former prime minister in three terrorism cases registered against him in Lahore and the Zille Shah murder case, reports Dawn.

Earlier in the day, a separate IHC bench accepted Imran's bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case for two weeks, a day after the Supreme Court termed his arrest "invalid and unlawful." It also stopped authorities from arresting the PTI chief till 17 May in any case registered in Islamabad after 9 May.

Pak PM Shehbaz calls judiciary biased

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday criticised the country's judiciary for being biased towards Imran Khan in response to the Supreme Court of Pakistan's judgement ordering the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

He stressed that the judiciary stands divided by saying, "The judiciary has become an iron shield for Imran Khan," reports Pakistani media outlet The News.

In the Al-Qadir Trust case, Khan was detained on the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by Rangers personnel acting on a warrant from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

"Politicians were sent to jail in fake cases. Did any court ever take its notice?" he asked.

Commenting on the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) case history, the prime minister stated that the anti-graft agency has not spared anyone and has poisoned the entire nation, from industries and educational institutions to religious institutions.

According to Sharif, other political leaders in the country encountered trials and harsh treatment, whereas Khan received "privileged treatment".

"These are the double standards of justice," he said, expressing astonishment over CJP's remarks during yesterday's hearing where he said he was pleased to meet the former prime minister.

He noted that thousands of cases involving members of the general public were pending before the courts, while some political figures received parole on a priority basis.

Imran says he was hit on the head during arrest

In an informal conversation with journalists at the IHC, Imran said that NAB officials treated him "fine" but hastened to add that he was hit on the head while being arrested, according to a Dawn report.

He further said that he was also not able to get in touch with his wife Bushra Bibi. "I asked the NAB team to let me talk [to her]. They let me talk to her on the landline," he said.

Talking about violent protests in the country, he said, "How could I have stopped whatever happened? I had already told [you] that there would be a reaction to the arrest.

"When I was [taken into custody], then how can I be responsible?" the former premier asked.

In a video shared on social media by Independent Urdu, Imran further said: "I was sitting in the high court. They had no reason to arrest me. I was abducted.

"And there they showed me the warrant for the first time when they took me to jail. This happens in the law of the jungle where the army abducts. Where did the police go? Where did the law go?" he asked.

"The law of the jungle has been instated in the country. It seems as if martial law has been declared," he said.

"When I reached the court yesterday, I found out for the first time that 40 helpless people have lost their lives in this. I did not even know about this," he added.

Awan says Punjab police headed to Islamabad to arrest Imran in 'new cases'

Talking to the media outside the IHC after the break in proceedings due to Friday prayers, PTI lawyer Babar Awan claimed that a police team from Lahore had left for Islamabad to arrest Imran in "new cases".

"There are two to three people in the incumbent administration who are worried because if Imran Khan is released, their jobs will be in danger," he alleged, adding that this was why Punjab police had been called to the capital.

Awan reiterated there were threats to Imran's life, adding that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had also said the same. "Why then are they so adamant to arrest Imran? Let me tell you, any attempt to arrest Imran again will be unconstitutional."

The lawyer also alleged that "special people" were hired to "hunt" the PTI chief and said that those who sent the ex-prime minister to jail were responsible for the violence in the country.

"Before Imran Khan was sent to jail […] the country's situation was in front of you. Today, the situation has escalated at the hands of those who were struck out by the Supreme Court […] and that is NAB," Awan added.

Al-Qadir Trust case

A division bench comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz granted Imran two-week bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case, in which he was whisked away by Rangers from IHC premises on 9 May, reports Dawn.

During the hearing, Justice Aurangzeb asked Imran if he condemned the violence that ensued after his arrest, to which the PTI chief's lawyer replied in the affirmative. The judge then asked the ex-premier to submit a declaration in court stating the same.

The hearing was halted shortly after it began at 1pm on account of Friday prayers.

When the hearing resumed after 2.30pm, Imran was present in the courtroom alongside his legal team and his lawyer Khawaja Haris presented his arguments.

Haris contended before the court that the NAB's actions were illegal. He said the NAB could only issue an arrest warrant after an inquiry had formally been turned into an investigation.

He said the PTI got to know through media reports that NAB had formally initiated an investigation against Imran. Haris also said that the PTI chief had approached the IHC on 9 May seeking the NAB report in the inquiry but was arrested before he could enter the courtroom.

At one point during the hearing, the court asked the petitioner if he was provided a questionnaire in connection with the case, to which Haris replied in negative.

He said Imran was issued a call-up notice which he did not appear for but instead submitted a written reply. Haris further said the accountability watchdog was "biased" at the moment.

The court then accepted Imran's bail plea and also instructed the NAB prosecutor general and Imran's lawyers to come prepared at the next hearing. It also said that it would decide whether Imran's bail should be cancelled or extended at the next hearing.

After the hearing concluded, Dawn's correspondent outside the court said that a sea of PTI workers and supporters celebrated in the streets.

Imran gets protective bail in three Lahore cases

Separately, an IHC bench comprising Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri and Justice Ejaz Ishaq Khan granted the PTI chief protective bail in three terrorism cases registered against him in Lahore for 10 days.

During the hearing, the PTI chief told the court that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had warned of arresting him again, saying that there was no rule of law in the country currently.

Earlier, Justice Jahangiri also approved Imran's protective bail in a case pertaining to the death of Zille Shah – a PTI worker who was killed during a party rally in Lahore earlier this year – for 10 days against surety bonds worth Rs50,000.

Pak president meets Imran at Islamabad rest house

Pakistan's President Arif Alvi visited PTI Chairman Imran Khan at the Police rest house in the Police Lines where he was staying till his appearance before the IHC on Friday.

During the visit on Thursday, Alvi congratulated him on the release and briefed him about the situation in the country, reports The News.

According to sources, the president informed Khan about his communication with the military authorities on his arrest and the situation in the wake of it.

The sources said that he later sent for the chief minister of Gilgit Baltistan (GB) who was living in GB House. He too joined the discussions and they lasted for more than two hours till after midnight.

The sources also added that Khan had later sent for the chief minister of Gilgit Baltistan (GB) who was living in GB House and the discussions lasted for more than two hours till after midnight.

This, he said, on Thursday evening in the Supreme Court while responding to a query by a foreign media representative, who asked him if he was nabbed because he made allegations against a serving military officer.

During the visit, Khan remained firm on his stance and reiterated that his allegations against a serving military officer are not mere accusations but a reality, says The News.