Pakistani courts grant bail to former prime minister Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD – Two Pakistani courts on Thursday extended the bail of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

 More than 150 cases have been filed against the 70-year-old former international cricket star since his overthrow last April.

 He appeared in two courts in the capital Islamabad on Thursday.

 His lawyer Sher Afzal said Khan had been granted bail in eight cases related to counterterrorism until June 19.

 Gohar Khan, another lawyer, said another court had extended bail in nine other cases.

 His arrest last month sparked nationwide protests in which a mob set fire to the residence of a senior army commander.

 This has led to a widespread crackdown that threatens his political survival and that of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

 Late Wednesday night, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), — the military’s public relations arm, vowed to tighten “the “noose of law” around those involved in the violence.

 Thousands have already been arrested, and some face trial in military courts — a process condemned by local and international human rights groups.

Khan denies inciting the violence and says the attacks on military targets were “black operations” to give authorities a pretext to arrest him and ban his party.

“I want to tell my nation that I am ready to face jail…  I will never bow down to this unfair and autocratic regime,” he said Wednesday in his latest address broadcast on YouTube.

“I also request you not to bow down, as the moment you succumb to this unjust and autocratic rule, the existence of our nation will be jeopardized.”

 The mass resignations in his party have left Khan increasingly isolated in his home in the eastern city of Lahore.

 Late Wednesday, several senior politicians who had resigned from his party in recent weeks announced the formation of a new party, the Istehkam-e-Pakistan — the Pakistan Stability Party.

 Pakistan’s annual inflation rate reached a record 37.97 percent in May.

 Experts say the country is on the brink of economic collapse as crucial IMF bailout talks have stalled.