— Imran Khan says plot afoot to knock him out technically
ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Thursday granted bail to Imran Khan on charges of terrorism and barred police from arresting the former prime minister through the end of the month.
Khan is accused of making verbal threats to top brass of Islamabad police and a judge in his speech at a rally in Rawalpindi over the weekend.
The latest development comes days after the government of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition leveled terrorism offences against Khan, escalating political tensions and drawing nationwide condemnation.
Earlier, Khan’s lawyer Babar Awan requested the court to grant bail to Khan. Arriving at court, Khan was asked to walk toward the courtroom as ordinary suspects do.
The court agreed to extend Khan’s protection from arrest until September 1 against a surety of Rs100,000.
Awan, however, requested the court to extend the duration of bail, but the request was turned down.
“I cannot grant bail for a longer period and will only grant it for a week. I am granting bail till September 1 and issuing a notice to police,” the judge said.
He also issued notices to the petitioner and prosecutor, seeking their replies, and adjourned the hearing.
HEIGHTENED SECURITY
Hundreds of Khan’s supporters gathered outside the court building, chanting slogans against the government. Demonstrators said Khan is being politically victimised by the government of Shehbaz Sharif.
Later, Khan left the court for his home on the outskirts of Islamabad.
Legal experts say Khan could face from several months to 14 years in prison, the equivalent of a life sentence if he is found guilty by the court during the trial which has not started yet against him on the terrorism charges.
Thursday’s appearance of the PTI chair before the anti-terrorism tribunal amid tight security was the latest development in the saga between the government and Khan, who has been holding mass rallies, seeking to return to power.
Khan is also to appear before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on August 31 to face contempt proceedings on charges of threatening a judge. His conviction, in this case, will mean his disqualification from politics for life under the law.
No convicted person can run for office.
It is the second time that Khan faces contempt charges. After elections in 1993, he was summoned but pardoned by the Supreme Court after describing the conduct of the judiciary as “shameful” and saying it did not ensure free and fair elections.
Legal experts say Khan has limited options and could avoid a conviction if he apologises for his remarks against the junior judge, Zeba Chaudhry, when he told her to “get ready for it, we will also take legal action against you.”
Since his ouster, Khan has alleged that the military took part in a US plot to oust him. Washington, the military and the government of Sharif have all denied the allegation.
Plan afoot to technically knock me out: Imran
The PTI chairman, addressing the media after his bail approval, said he had been charged because “they [govt] are afraid of the PTI’s popularity” which was “winning by-elections across the country”.
“This is their attempt at a technical knockout,” he said, before adding “whatever decisions they are taking, they should think of the country first”.
PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry said that the party will proceed to “move the high court for quashing” the charges against Imran and remained confident that “the FIR will be cancelled”.
He further expressed hope that “by September 10, we will rid ourselves of this government”.
Asad defends Imran’s statement
PTI leader Asad Umar, speaking to the media, defended Imran’s statements against a female judge and police officials and said that the PTI chairman had “clearly said we will take legal action” against them, which he stated was “the legal right of any Pakistani leader and citizen”.
“Charging [Imran] with terrorism is disrespectful to those that have been fighting in the war against terror and those who lost their lives to it,” he said.
“Pakistan has become a joke in front of the international community, where one is charged with terrorism over a political speech”.
Expressing solidarity with the PTI chief, Umar said that “the struggle for true freedom will succeed”.
PTI supporters reach court
PTI supporters and workers had also gathered outside the court in an expression of “solidarity” with their leader, chanting slogans in his support.
Meanwhile, strict security arrangements were put in place in the surrounding area of the Judicial Commission, with roads closed for traffic on all sides of the compound. Unauthorised persons were not permitted to enter the court premises while media persons were also denied access.
According to security officials, 400 police and FC officials were deployed. The police said that they have been directed not to allow anyone to enter the judicial complex without official orders.
Imran, Asad get bail in Section 144 case
Soon after securing relief from the ATC, Imran appeared before Additional Session Judge Zaffar Abbas in Islamabad where his request for protective bail was granted in the Section 144 case registered against PTI leaders after a political rally in the area.
The court also granted Asad’s interim bail request in the same case in lieu of a surety bond of Rs5,000. A heavy contingent of police and FC were deployed at the F8 judicial complex. The court summoned the police along with the records on September 7.
The PTI chief had alleged that Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry knew that Gill was tortured, but she did not release him on bail. He threatened that he would take legal action against the judge and the Inspector general of Islamabad police.
