Pakistan's ex-premier gets bail in 7 cases

KARACHI, Pakistan

A Pakistani high court on Thursday granted protective bail to the country's former Prime Minister Imran Khan in seven separate cases for the next ten days.

Court records showed that the two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court in the country's capital ordered Khan to approach an anti-terrorism court in connection with terror-related cases against him within the next 10 days.

Multiple local broadcasters showed the ex-premier entering the court premises in a black bullet-proof vehicle with half a dozen security guards.

Another shot showed Khan entering the courtroom on a wheelchair, donning a white shalwar-kameez (loose trousers and a shirt), a black waistcoat, and sunglasses.

According to his center-right Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, he has been "strictly" advised by doctors to limit his movement to avoid infection of his wounds after an assassination attempt in November.

Narrowly escaping the attempt while leading an anti-government march towards Islamabad, Khan has since then been residing in his residence in Lahore and has frequently skipped court hearings on health and security grounds.

He has repeatedly accused the government of trying to orchestrate his assassination by compromising his security through court hearings.

Khan, 70, is the country's only premier ousted in a parliamentary vote of no confidence. He is facing a slew of cases against him, ranging from terrorism to attempted murder and money laundering.

Most of these, which Khan calls "sham" cases, have been lodged after his ouster, which he blames on a US-backed conspiracy. The incumbent coalition government in Islamabad and Washington have both repeatedly refuted these claims.

KARACHI, Pakistan

A Pakistani high court on Thursday granted protective bail to the country's former Prime Minister Imran Khan in seven separate cases for the next ten days.

Multiple local broadcasters showed the ex-premier entering the court premises in a black bullet-proof vehicle with half a dozen security guards.

Another shot showed Khan entering the courtroom on a wheelchair, donning a white shalwar-kameez (loose trousers and a shirt), a black waistcoat, and sunglasses.

He has repeatedly accused the government of trying to orchestrate his assassination by compromising his security through court hearings.

Khan, 70, is the country's only premier ousted in a parliamentary vote of no confidence. He is facing a slew of cases against him, ranging from terrorism to attempted murder and money laundering.