PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s interim bail in terror case extended till Sept 12
Imran Khan says he was becoming dangerous by the day & instead he was becoming ‘more dangerous by the day’
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Thursday granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan till September 12 on a surety bond of Rs100,000 in the terrorism case against him. The court has directed police prosecutor and Imran Kahn’s lawyer to complete their arguments regarding the interim bail on 12th September. The court will announce the verdict regarding the acceptance or rejection of the interim bail on the same date.
The hearing of the case had commenced around 10:00 AM but was adjourned till 12:00 PM after the ATC had ordered the former premier to appear before the court for his bail plea hearing.
Imran Khan arrived at the Islamabad ATC amid tight security and the proceedings commenced under ATC judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan, who ordered the prosecutor to grant the PTI chairman interim bail in the four new charges added to the first information report (FIR) in the case.
The bail on the new provisions was granted against a bond of Rs100,000 as Imran Khan’s lawyer Dr. Zaheeruddin Babar Awan ensured that the deposed prime minister was granted bail for all the sections under which he was charged with terrorism. As the hearing resumed, Babar Awan told the judge that “Imran Khan has reached the courtroom on your orders.”
He questioned if Imran Khan had “threatened to burn someone to death” and argued that lawyers had in the past been martyred but no action was taken, however, “a terrorism case has been made against the former premier”.
At this, the judge stated that final arguments will be heard in the next hearing and adjourned the case till September 12.
During the hearing earlier on Thursday, the former premier’s counsel Babar Awan appeared before the court, while journalists and other lawyers were banned from entering the judicial complex.
The court remarked that Imran Khan would have to appear before the court in person, to which Awan argued that the Islamabad Police had informed the PTI leader that his life was in danger.
ATC Judge Abbas said that the arguments for the bail application would be heard today, while the prosecutor asked the court to present the accused after which the court would proceed.
The court ordered the reading of the threatened individual’s statement for the record of the case.
The judge asked the prosecutor whether terrorism charges were ever registered without a crime, maintaining that the court was typically informed of the weapons involved.
Imran Khan’s lawyer requested the court to give them time till 12:00 PM to produce the PTI chief before the court. He, however, warned that if anything happened to his client the inspector general and director inspector general of operations would be held “responsible”.
The court questioned what danger Imran faced, adding that it had granted him bail earlier.
“If the court has granted him bail, it is his duty to appear before the court,” the judge remarked, to which Awan reiterated that Imran wanted to come but police personnel said his life was in danger.
The lawyer further stated that four additional sections – Section 504, 506, 186 and 188 – had been added in the terror case against Imran and pleaded that the court grants him bail for these provisions as well. Judge Abbas stated that the court would issue notices in this regard.
Subsequently, the anti-terrorism court adjourned the hearing till noon and summoned Imran Khan.
Speaking to the media outside the courtroom, Babar Awan said that the PTI had submitted two detailed responses to the court. He said that the government, the Islamabad IG and DIG would be responsible if something happens to the PTI leader.
“On one hand, they are removing security […] yesterday Imran went to court […] his security was made to wait outside.” He went on to say that a “threat letter” was received at Banigala which stated that some people wanted to harm the PTI chief. “We have kept the threat letter with our submissions in court.”
Awan went on to say that more charges had been added to the case. “The judge said he [Imran] should appear. It’s not like he’s in Mayfair. He’s in Banigala. I told the judge I will bring him (Imran) at 12pm.”
Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Asad Umar said the government was ridiculing Pakistan at an international level by filing cases against Imran. “They have realised it is impossible to face him politically. Hence they are trying to frame false charges and cases against him,” Umar said.
Amidst questions from media personnel after the hearing of the case, Imran Khan remarked that he was becoming dangerous by the day and instead he was becoming “more dangerous by the day”. He, however, did not respond to questions about whom he was becoming dangerous for. A journalist questioned that there is allegation that your wife secured necklace of diamonds from Malik Riaz, tell us about it. While taunting the journalists Imran Khan said that diamonds are very cheap, talk something about precious thing.
The journalist questioned from Imran Khan whether he will seek apology from Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chauhdry. Imran Khan did not reply the question of the journalist.
A case was registered against the former prime minister under the Anti-Terrorism Act for threatening the additional sessions judge and senior police officers of the Islamabad Police during a public rally.
The party moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) where Khan managed to secure a transit bail till August 25, but was asked to approach the ATC as the case was terrorism-related.
The FIR registered against Khan states that he threatened Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry and police officers at a rally in F-9 Park to “terrorise” police officials and the judiciary.
The main aim was to prevent the police officers and judiciary from carrying out their legal obligations, states the FIR.
The FIR was registered on the complaint of Magistrate Ali Javed in Islamabad’s Margalla Police Station under Section 7 of ATA.
At the Islamabad rally on August 20, Imran had warned the judiciary against its “biased” attitude towards his party, saying that it should brace itself for the consequences.
The former prime minister had also warned additional district and sessions judge Zeba Chaudhry, who had approved the two-day physical remand of his aide Shahbaz Gill’s on the request of the capital police in a sedition case, that she, too, would face dire consequences.
Moreover, the PTI chief had threatened to file cases against Islamabad’s inspector general of police and deputy inspector general of police, saying, “We won’t spare you.”
Subsequently, Imran was booked under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (punishment for acts of terrorism) on Sunday for “threatening” a female judge and senior police officers.
Islamabad police had also registered another case against the former prime and other top leaders of the PTI for allegedly violating of Section 144 while holding the August 20 rally.