Imran Khan Terrorism Case

Mahnoor Irfan

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan has been booked in a terrorism case for allegedly threatening a judge during party rally in Islamabad’s F/9 Park.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and deposed prime minister Imran Khan was booked in a terrorism case on the complaint of Islamabad Saddar Magistrate Ali Javed for threatening the additional sessions judge of the federal capital, Zeba Chaudhry. Imran announced that PTI would move the Supreme Court against Gill’s arrest and alleged torture, and would also seek legal action against the Islamabad police chief and his deputy as well as the magistrate who sent Shahbaz Gill on physical remand. In a series of posts on Twitter, Khan alleged that pictures and videos “clearly” showed that Gill had been tortured “both mentally and physically, including sexual abuse” while in police custody. “He was humiliated to break him down,” he wrote. “I now have full detailed information. Islamabad Police says it did not inflict any torture. So my question is: who tortured Gill?” he said, implying it was not the police that had “tortured” the accused. But, the tone of such language prompted PEMRA to ban the PTI leader’s live speeches.

Faking it

Speaking with private broadcaster Geo News on Friday evening, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan rejected the PTI’s allegations of abuse, claiming Gill was “faking” his illness to delay the police investigation into his alleged sedition. “No abuse of any kind occurred. Shahbaz Gill is just faking it. He was not tortured,” he claimed, adding that Khan was “lying” by alleging Gill had been sexually abused. Urging the PTI leader to file a legal petition against the people he believed were responsible for any such crime, he warned that the party would face legal action if it attempted to enter the Red Zone or the PIMS Hospital.

 

Govt warns Imran of action

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that people who were giving threats to police heads and a female magistrate would have to face action under the law. “Imran Khan gave threats. The whole world watched. Now he should get ready to face action,” he said in a series of tweets. He added that the former premier has to answer for such comments and interfering in state matters. “It is not possible to insult the martyrs, incite rebellion and then stand in Islamabad and challenge the state writ. This attitude can lead to the encouragement of extremists and terrorists in the country, action is necessary!” he said.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb described the former premier as a “threat” to the country as Imran was leading the country towards a “civil war”.

Islamabad police to ‘work as per law

The Islamabad police also reacted to the onslaught, saying that “it will continue its duties diligently.”

Anyone making threats or allegations would be dealt with according to law, it said in a series of tweets, adding that they have taken its work seriously for the people and the country. Police reiterated that they would act as per law against “all false allegations”.

Imran Khan booked under terrorism charges

Several sentences from Imran’s speech had been made part of the FIR. It said that Imran Khan’s speech in this design and style was aimed at spawning fear and panic among the police authorities, the judiciary and the public.

It added that Imran’s threat of “filing a case against you” had spread fear among the police authorities, the judiciary and the public and destroyed the peace in the country. The complainant requested the police to take legal action against the accused.

Separately, an application for registering a case against Imran Khan was filed with the Ramna police on Sunday. In his complaint, Advocate Ziaur Rahman accused the PTI chief of inciting the people to revolt against state institutions and using hate speech against the army, judiciary and police officers.

Rahman stated that on Saturday Imran announced that the PTI would file a case against Islamabad IG Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, the deputy inspector general (DIG) and Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry. He said that the threat of filing case against the magistrate was tantamount to an “act of terrorism”.

He further complained that Imran was trying to prevent an honourable judge from performing her duties, adding that the PTI chief’s speech at the party rally in F-9 Park on Saturday hurt the dignity and sentiments of both the judiciary and the bar. He requested the police to arrest Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi.

The Station House Officer (SHO) of the Ramna police station, Shahid Zaman, told The Express Tribune that no case had yet been registered on the application because the incident occurred in F-9 Park, which lay in the jurisdiction of Margalla Police Station.

On the other hand, a senior police officer, when contacted by The Express Tribune, said that apart from the crime scene and depending upon the nature of the allegations, a case could be registered in the police station in the residential area of the complainant.

Other police sources said that in the sedition case registered against Gill carried Section 134 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which meant that the accused has committed the crime of inciting public rebellion against state institutions in consultation with several people. They added that Imran could become an accused in the case if solid evidence was found.

Party Announces Protest Meet

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members have urged party workers and supporters to take to the streets to protest against the possible arrest of party chief and former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan.

Moreover, senior PTI leader, Fawad Chaudhry has asked party workers to reach the former PM’s Bani Gala residence.

PTI vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, while speaking to the media, told party activists to remain prepared and wait for the party’s call for protest in case of Imran Khan’s arrest.

The police have reportedly blocked the routes leading to the Bani Gala residence of Imran Khan and unauthorised persons have been banned from travelling through the routes.

According to ARY News, the police installed barbed wire to seal the routes whereas heavy contingents of the Frontier Corps (FC) were deployed and the street lights of Imran Khan Chowk were turned off.

IHC grants Imran pre-arrest bail till Aug 25 in terrorism case

PTI chief’s counsel argued that he be granted protective bail as police surrounded his house. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was granted a pre-arrest bail till August 25 by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday after being booked under terrorism charges. The bail plea was heard by Justice Mohsin Akthar Kayani and Justice Babar Sattar, who approved the bail and ordered him to approach the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) within these three days. Imran’s counsel, Babar Awan and Faisal Chaudhry, argued that the PTI chief should be granted protective bail as he wanted to appear before the ATC, but his house was “surrounded by the police”.

They further feared that the police personnel could arrest Imran if he appeared in court without a protective bail. The PTI chief’s counsel stated that the concerned ATC judge was on leave hence, the high court had to be approached.

Petition filed for pre-arrest bail

PTI chief Imran Khan on Monday filed an application for pre-arrest bail in the IHC after he was charged with terrorism for threatening an additional sessions court judge. The pre-arrest bail application, filed by lawyers Babar Awan and Faisal Chaudhry, maintained that Imran had no past criminal record.

It requested that the high court approve the application, and stated that the former premier was ready for any investigation involved in the case.

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