Bring Imran Khan in ambulance if needed, rules LHC

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan should be presented before it in an “ambulance if he is injured and cannot walk” as he seeks protective bail in a case.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh’s remarks came on Wednesday as he heard Khan’s plea seeking protective bail in a case lodged against him for protesting outside the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) office.

The PTI chief moved the high court after an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad rejected his bail in the same case earlier in the day — after Khan failed to appear in person before it.

The PTI leader was booked in the case last year in October after the Toshakhana verdict was announced by the ECP, sparking countrywide protests. Khan had been on bail on medical grounds after he was injured in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad during a rally on November 3.

The hearing

At the onset of the hearing, Khan’s legal counsel contended that according to his medical report, it was difficult for the PTI chief to walk.

“Khan wants to appear in the relevant court, he contended, “however, according to the doctor, he will not be able to walk again for three weeks.”

Khan’s counsel then requested the court to grant him protective bail on medical grounds.

To this, Justice Saleem said, “the appearance of the suspect is necessary even in the case of a protective bail.”

He further said that in light of the problem, the PTI chief could come to the court in an ambulance.