The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday has ordered Suleman Shehbaz, son of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to surrender before it on December 13 and barred authorities from arresting him till then.

The court has also asked authorities not to arrest the petitioner at the airport. The orders were given by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq while hearing a plea filed by the prime minister’s son for protective bail.

During the hearing, Suleman’s lawyer Amjad Pervez told the court that his client is abroad since October 2018 while all cases against him were registered after that.

However, the court informed the lawyer that it cannot grant bail in absence of the petitioner.

Suleman Shehbaz is set to return to Pakistan after ending his self-exile of over four years in the British capital, London.