Monitoring Report
PTI chief and former prime minister Imran Khan arrived at an Islamabad anti-terrorism court on Monday in connection with the terrorism case registered him.
ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan is presiding over the hearing.
Prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbasi informed the court that the PTI chairman had not yet joined the investigation.
However, Imran’s lawyer Babar Awan interjected and said that the prosecution had been told that Imran’s statement was with the investigating officer (IO).
“Where is it written that visiting a police station is a prerequisite for [joining the] investigation?” he asked.
The PTI chief was booked for terrorism under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act for making controversial remarks against Additional Sessional Judge Zeba Chaudhry and officials of the Islamabad Police during a rally in Islamabad on Aug 20.
Another case was also registered against the former premier for violating Section 144. However, new sections were later added to the FIR, against which the PTI chief had approached the court.
Imran was earlier granted pre-arrest bail till September 12 (today).
At the previous hearing, Special Public Prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain confirmed the insertion of the sections and admitted that these sections were not inserted in the FIR initially.
These sections were: Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 186 (imprisonment for three months), and 188 (disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant).
Meanwhile on Sunday, Imran for a third time refused to appear before the joint investigation team (JIT) probing the terrorism charge against him. The police had summoned Imran at 6pm in connection with the case, but he failed to show up.
Earlier in the day, Imran’s lawyer Babar Awan had raised security concerns, saying that previously the former premier’s car was not allowed to enter the judicial complex.
At this, the judge allowed Imran’s car to enter the judicial complex. A lot of people throng the car, try to ensure there is no chaos, the judge directed Awan.
Judge Hassan then asked whether the former premier had joined the investigation, to which Awan replied in the affirmative.
However, the investigation officer (IO) disputed this, saying that three notices had gone unanswered by Imran. Imran submitted a reply through his lawyer, the IO said.
The judge also asked whether the statement in question had been made a part of the record. “Imran has not joined the investigation. It has not been made a part of the case record,” the IO said.
This shows malic on your part, the judge remarked to Awan, before asking about the status of the JIT. The IO replied that a JIT had been formed.
During the hearing, the prosecutor said that Imran should appear before the court and become a part of the investigation. The judge also directed Awan to present his arguments, saying that other cases had to be delayed due to the one at hand.
“Present the suspect so that the arguments can be completed,” he told Awan. The court then adjourned the hearing for a brief period and summoned Imran at 11am.
