ISLAMABAD
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) yesterday extended the interim bail of PTI chief Imran Khan till December 11 in the torture case of former Senior Superintendent of Police during a sit-in.
Imran Khan was also present in court as the case was registered against him by Secretariat Police in 2014 when he was heading an anti-government sit-in outside Parliament House.
After hearing the counsel representing Imran Khan, Judge Shahrukh Arjumand extended the interim bail till December 11 (Monday). Babar Awan, the counsel of PTI also challenged the jurisdiction of ATC to hear the four cases filed against Irman Khan and argued for dropping of terrorism charges against Imran.
In a request submitted before the court on behalf of Imran Khan, Advocate Babar Awan sought the transfer of the four cases, dating back to 2014, to the civil court.
These four cases are with regard to the torture of former SSP (Operations) Islamabad Asmat Ullah Junejo and attack on other personnel and attack on the PTV building.
In his arguments, Awan cited as precedent the dismissal of cases against the protesters who had camped out at the Faizabad Interchange for over 20 days. He also read the agreement between the protesters and government which resulted in end of the sit-in.
Referring clause 3 of this agreement, he said the government agreed to drop cases against the protesters and questioning as citizens’ struggle for democratic rights fall within the scope of terrorism. Awan sought the dismissal of terrorism charges against Imran.
On the other side, the prosecution alleged that during the 2014 sit-in, Khan had told his workers to attack the Inspector General and lay siege to the Prime Minister’s House.
He said there was evidence Imran had incited his workers at the time and argued for action against the PTI chief under the Anti-Terrorism Act. After hearing the arguments from both sides, the court extended Khan’s interim bail till December 11.
