Watch: high drama as Imran Khan appears before Lahore High Court

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday appeared before the Lahore High Court which granted him protective bail in a case linked to violent protests outside the election commission, amidst high drama as hundreds of his supporters converged to show solidarity with him.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists had staged a violent protest after 70-year-old Khan was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the prohibited funding case last year.

A court official told PTI that a two-member bench of LHC led by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi granted the protective bail to the PTI chairman till March 3.

"Khan appeared before the court and told him that he wanted to appear before it last week but doctors had advised him to rest as his leg wound would heal in over two weeks. He also said he always respected the courts as he is an upholder of justice. He said ‘justice’ is also included in his party’s name," the official said.

Justice Najafi appreciated Khan for submitting to the law. The judge granted him protective bail till March 3 and refrained police and any other agency from arresting him.

A team of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and police were present on the federal coalition government's directive at the court premises to arrest Khan in case of denial of his bail.

This was the first time Khan appeared before a court of law after he sustained bullet injuries in an attack on his rally in November last year

Thousands of workers of Khan's party thronged the route of his Lahore's residence to the LHC that made him cover a 10-minute distance in more than two hours.

Khan’s vehicle was showered with rose petals as it made its way inside the LHC premises with a large number of PTI supporters chanting slogans in his support and against the PML-N-led coalition government.

And despite his arrival at the court's premises, Khan could not manage to reach the courtroom in 90 minutes because of a crowd of the PTI workers. Sporting a blue salwar kameez, Khan got off his vehicle at 7.15 pm (local time) and reached the courtroom in heavy security cover.

(With PTI inputs)

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