Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has obtained protective bail in seven cases against him. The Lahore High Court (LHC) granted him bail on Saturday, March 25, 2023, until April 5, 2023, in cases relating to the misuse of authority, violation of the Constitution, and other charges.
The cases against Imran Khan were filed by the opposition parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), alleging that he had violated the law while he was the chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party before becoming the Prime Minister.
The LHC approved Imran Khan’s plea for protective bail after hearing arguments from his lawyer, who argued that the cases were politically motivated and had been filed to malign the Prime Minister’s image. The court agreed with the argument and granted the bail, stating that it was necessary to protect Imran Khan’s rights until the cases were resolved.
The Prime Minister’s lawyer, Babar Awan, said that Imran Khan had not committed any wrongdoing and that the allegations were baseless. He further added that the cases were part of a campaign by the opposition parties to weaken the government and that they were using the courts to further their political agenda.
It is worth mentioning that this is not the first time that the Prime Minister has been accused of misconduct. In December 2022, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed a reference against him in a corruption case relating to the construction of a housing project. Imran Khan had denied the allegations and called them politically motivated.
The decision of the LHC to grant protective bail to Imran Khan has been welcomed by the government, with the Information Minister, Fawad Chaudhry, saying that it was a victory for justice and the rule of law. He also stated that the government would continue to support the Prime Minister in his fight against political victimization.
The Lahore High Court’s decision to grant protective bail to Imran Khan in the seven cases against him is a significant development in Pakistan’s political landscape. The decision is likely to provide some relief to the Prime Minister and his party, who have been facing intense opposition from the opposition parties. However, it remains to be seen how the cases will progress and what impact they will have on the Prime Minister’s political career.
