Imran, other PTI leaders' bail extended in Sec 144 violation case

An additional district and sessions court in the federal capital on Wednesday extended Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and other party leaders' bail till September 27 in the Section 144 violation case.

At the outset of the case, the petitioner's lawyers applied for an exemption of the presence of Imran Khan, Asad Qaiser, Asad Umar and Faisal Vawda, which the court granted.

During the hearing, PTI leader Fayyazul Hasan Chohan's counsel requested the court to acquit him from the case. To this, the judge remarked that "how can we acquit the accused at the stage of bail?"

The court then directed the investigating officer to investigate PTI leader Asad Umar on merit and to discharge him from the case if he was found to be not involved.

Read: Court extends Imran's interim bail in terrorism case

During the last hearing, Umar's lawyer Babar Awan had filed a petition wherein he had mentioned that the PTI secretary general was present in a Lahore rally at the time when protests were being held in different parts of the country.

Subsequently, the court adjourned the case and extended the post-arrest bail till September 27. 

‘Violating Section 144’

The Islamabad police had filed a case against PTI chief Imran Khan and other party leaders for violating Section 144 during their rally in Islamabad held last month.

According to the first information report (FIR), filed by Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Muhammad Anwar, the federal capital police had made announcements through loudspeakers that Section 144 was imposed in the city, however, the rally had continued.

The party leaders had participated in the rally to protest PTI leader Shahbaz Gill’s arrest and 'custodial torture'.

According to the PTI leaders’ lawyers, the case against them was “baseless”, adding that the rally was peaceful and the cases were an "attempt to suppress" the leaders.