Wearing a bizarre-looking protective headgear, former Pakistan PM Imran Khan appeared before an anti-terrorism court in Lahore on Tuesday – highlighting the worsening security situation in the neighbouring country amid a ravaging economic crisis.
Khan, who has alleged a political plot to kill him as he continues his efforts to snatch back the country’s reigns since his ouster, entered the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court with his security detail surrounding him with bullet-proof shields.
The court has granted bail to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief in three cases till April 13.
The judge highlighted that Khan had not submitted his security bonds at the beginning of the hearing. The judge also observed that relief could be granted if Imran made a personal appearance as mandated in the previous hearing. Imran’s counsel argued that his client is facing assassination threats, to which the judge ordered him to present his client by 11 am PST.
Subsequently, Imran appeared in the court under heavy security, with his security detail carrying bullet-proof shields and Imran himself wearing a protective headgear. His bail was then extended by the ATC court.
The netizens on social media reacted with pun once the video of Imran in protective headgear started making rounds on social media. Taking to Twitter, many netizens made jokes on Imran’s appearance, with comments like “Can’t these guys afford a bullet-proof jacket for this poor guy? Why black bucket?”
Imran Khan has been making continuous accusations against the current government in Pakistan of planning to assassinate him. He has also previously blamed the Pakistan army of colluding with the government in conspiring against murdering him.
Last week, the interior minister of Pakistan, Rana Sanaullah, had made startling remarks against Imran Khan, which created a furore in Pakistan. Rana is accused of issuing a direct threat to Imran after he commented that “either Imran Khan will get murdered or us, he has now taken the politics in the country to a level where only one can remain, either PTI or PMLN”. He also commented that PMLN’s entire politics was under jeopardy, and he would go to any extent to settle the score with Khan.
This statement drew a sharp response from Imran who stated that he hopes that both survive but “if he says it’s either him or us, then I will say it will be him who won’t survive,” Imran further commented.
Imran Khan has repeatedly used the murder plot in his political speeches to draw sympathy from the voters, and the recent statement from the Pakistan interior minister is being used by Imran to justify his murder plot accusations against the Pakistani establishment.