Lahore (Web Desk): The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan's petition seeking protective bail in a case pertaining to a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) following its decision in the Toshakhana case.
The two-member bench of the LHC announced the verdict after the PTI chief failed to appear before the court.
The court had earlier adjourned the hearing multiple times as Imran's legal team sought more time for consultations.
The PTI chief had moved the LHC seeking protective bail in a case registered against him over a protest outside the ECP office.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad had cancelled the bail after Imran Khan failed to appear before it on Wednesday and sought another exemption on medical grounds. The court rejected the plea and directed the former premier to ensure his presence by 3:30pm, however, the summons were challenged in the LHC.
A terrorism case was registered against the PTI chief in October 2022 after the Toshakhana verdict was announced by the ECP, sparking countrywide protests.
The former premier had been on bail on medical grounds after he was injured in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad during a rally on November 3.
On Wednesday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had ordered a banking court in the federal capital not to issue its verdict on the bail plea of Imran Khan till February 22.
The banking court had also asked the PTI chief to appear before it in the prohibited funding case by 3:30pm at the expiry of his bail today, however, the former prime minister challenged the order in the IHC.