ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday rejected bail plea of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in a case related to staging protest in front of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Earlier, the ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas rejected Imran’s request for exemption from appearance and ordered him to appear at 1:30 pm today. However, when the proceedings began, Babar Awan was given an opportunity to contact his client and adjourned the hearing till 2:30 pm.
The hearing commenced without Imran under ATC judge Raja Jawad Abbas. Imran’s lawyer Babar Awan presented his arguments and made submissions before the court.
He maintained that the terrorism section did not apply to the case and highlighted that if the court gave that finding, the case could be transferred to another court.
Babar Awan told the court that Imran tried to travel to Islamabad but could not make it.
The judge however stated that as per the IHC decision, ATC sections couldn’t be quashed and that the merit case could not be heard without the accused present, and that the current hearing was regarding the former premier’s bail application.
As soon as the hearing began again, the ATC Judge announced the verdict, rejecting plea of extending interim bail of Imarn Khan.
On Feb 10, it may be recalled, the ATC had rejected request from former prime minister Imran Khan for exemption from appearance on medical grounds, granting him the “last opportunity” to appear before it on February 15 (today).
The Case:
Islamabad police had booked the PTI chief and scores of party workers on terrorism charges in October last year in the wake of protests after his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference. Cases were also registered against PTI leaders Senator Faisal Javed, Aamir Kayani, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Raja Rashid Hafeez, Umer Tanveer Butt, Rashid Naeem Abbasi and Raja Majid.
The first information report registered against the party members claimed the protestors had pelted stones at the police and FC officials, leading to many injuries. It further stated that workers of the former ruling party tried ramming police personnel with vehicles, set public property ablaze in Faizabad, and also damaged government property.
