Bail for Pakistan's Imran Khan extended till June 19

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
31 May 2023 21:12

A Pakistani court extends the bail period of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, but the official fears his wife could be arrested in a bid to pressure him.

Security personnel with bulletproof shields escort Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, center, after appearing in court, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, May 31, 2023 (AP)

Imran Khan, Pakistan's former Prime Minister, had his bail, in the Al Qadir Trust fraud case, extended till June 19, according to his counsel's announcement on Wednesday.

Khan has denied any misconduct and earlier, on May 9, his arrest provoked wide and violent protests from his supporters across the country, which compelled authorities to free him on bail as of May 12.

Initially, his bail period was extended for two weeks, but today, his counsel announced the extension of his bail till June 19, 2023.

Khan voiced concern that his wife could be arrested next, in an attempt to pressure him and as part of the ongoing campaign against him.

However, Gohar Khan, the former PM's lawyer, told Reuters that as of yet, there has been no arrest warrant issued for Bushra Khan, Khan's wife, adding that she could be required to fill out a questionnaire that could be sent to her from the court.

On his part, Farrukh Habib, spokesperson for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Khan's political party, reportedly stated that the case against the former Prime Minister has been politically motivated.

Khan says no plans to travel abroad

Khan, on May 26, said he has no plans of leaving his country after his name was placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) which imposes a travel ban on listed individuals.

"I want to thank the government for putting my name on the ECL [Exit Control List] as I have no plans to travel abroad...," Khan wrote on his Twitter.

I want to thank the government for putting my name on the ECL as I have no plans to travel abroad, because I neither have any properties or businesses abroad nor even a bank account outside the country.

If and when I do get an opportunity for a holiday, it will be in our…
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 26, 2023

Khan was added to the ECL over his suspected involvement in the May 9 riots which claimed the lives of 10 people. Several other members of his party, the PTI, are facing similar cases over the violence that erupted following the detention of Imran Khan. He was released on May 11 after a court ruled his arrest was unlawful.

According to a report by Geo News, some of PTI's leaders and members attempted to flee the country over the past three days and have been stopped at the airport.

It further states that Khan is preparing to apply for political asylum in the US, as per allegations made by the Special Assistant to Prime Minister Faisal Karim Kundi.

"I have been told by my sources that Imran Khan will soon apply for political asylum in America. Soon, we will see news flashing on our TV screens that Imran Khan has applied for political asylum," Faisal Karim Kundi said, as cited by the Geo News.

Khan, who says corruption charges have been concocted against him, is embroiled in a confrontation with the powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan directly or overseen civilian governments throughout its history.