LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) directed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday to join the investigations in all those cases being registered against him by May 5 (Friday).
A three-member bench of the Lahore High Court ordered the PTI chief to join the investigation by 2 pm Friday while hearing a petition against the registration of 121 cases against Imran Khan.
The LHC bench comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, Justice Aalia Neelum and Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh heard the plea.
Earlier, Imran Khan filed a petition requesting for dismissal of 121 cases registered against him in April this year. However, the plea was later amended while challenging the registration of these cases. The plea addressed the Federation of Pakistan, Punjab province, Inspector General Punjab Dr Usman Anwar, and other provincial and federal nominees as parties.
Meanwhile, the court also directed the concerned official of the Punjab government to submit a report after the due completion of the investigations by 8 of this month.
The lawyer contended that there was no case against the PTI Chief during his 71 years of life.
The court inquired why the cases were being filed after the change of government. “They [the petitioner] claim that the cases were being registered to keep [Imran Khan] away from the coming elections.”
Responding to the court’s query, the lawyer from the Punjab government stated that the PTI chairman was seeking additional relief as a former prime minister.
Justice Baqir inquired about the cases related to the PTI Chief and their status. Punjab government council responded that Imran Khan didn’t join the investigations in any case.
Justice Neelum sought a guarantee from the lawyer of Imran Khan that he would join the investigations. She said that the court was awarding time to the petitioner to join the probe in all the cases.
Justice Sheikh, while adding to the arguments, stated that an appearance before the IO (investigation officer) was a must.
Imran Khan Assures LHC to Join Probe
Lawyer Imran Khan assured that his client would join the investigation in all cases and requested the high court to allow appearance through video link.
Later amid the hearing, PTI chairman Imran Khan requested the honourable court to allow him to speak for a few minutes while adding that he was not running away from the cases, but he should have less exposure as he was facing threats to his life, justice Baqir said, “Trust the court,”.
Imran Khan agreed to follow the directives of the court. Later the case was adjourned till Monday.
