ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s bail plea in the infamous £190 million settlement case has been extended for the next three days (till June 2) by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

A division bench of the IHC, comprising Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz heard the plea, which expired today (Wednesday).

Khan was arrested from the IHC premises by paramilitary forces on May 9, which triggered violent protests across the country. However, the Supreme Court deemed his arrest from the premises of the high court “illegal”.

Three days after his arrest in the multi-million pounds graft case, the PTI chairman walked free as the IHC granted him interim bail till May 31.

Today, the former prime minister, who had been ousted via a vote of no-confidence last year in April, had arrived at the high court amid security. 

Earlier, he went to the federal judicial complex with his wife, Bushra Bibi, who is a co-accused in the corruption case, seeking extension in her bail from an accountability court. 

Special passes

For the hearing, the court has issued special passes to lawyers, journalists, and government officials to ensure that the proceedings continue smoothly, as a crowd would make it difficult.

IHC’s employees and court staff have been exempted.

In a circular, the high court said it has authorised 15 lawyers of Khan to accompany him; 10 employees of the advocate general and attorney general’s office; and 30 members of the IHC Journalist Association.

In its request for allowing 14 members of its legal team, NAB’s prosecutor said that during the last hearing, their people weren’t provided passes.

The case

The former prime minister, along with his wife Bushra Bibi and other PTI leaders, is facing a NAB inquiry related to a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer.

As per the charges, Khan and other accused allegedly adjusted Rs50 billion — 190 million pounds at the time — sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government.

They are also accused of getting undue benefit in the form of over 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al-Qadir University.