ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad extended until December 9 the interim bail of former prime minister Imran Khan in a case pertaining to violation of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
The law empowers district administration to issue orders in the public interest that may place a ban on an activity for a specific period of time. Such a ban is enforced by the police who register cases under section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for violations of the ban. Section 188 carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison or a fine, or both.
In August, a first information report (FIR) was registered against Khan on charges of flouting a ban on public gatherings exceeding four persons imposed under Section 144 by holding a rally to protest against the arrest and purported torture of Shehbaz Gill, his chief of staff, in Islamabad on the 20th.
Babar Awan, counsel for Khan, submitted the medical report of the former prime minister to judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan on Monday.
He also requested the court to exempt Khan, who is currently in Lahore recovering from gunshot wounds, from personal appearance. At this, the judge wondered if Khan could attend a rally in Rawalpindi, why couldn’t he appear before the court?
Subsequently, the court extended his interim bail and adjourned further proceedings.
