PTI chief told to appear before JIT again

Notice read PTI chief was on bail in terrorism case till 12th

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad police on Saturday summoned PTI chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan again to appear before a joint investigation team (JIT) probing a terrorism case against him.

The notice was issued after Imran failed to appear before the JIT at the Margalla police station in a case lodged against him for threatening Additional and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry and cops during a rally.

Earlier this week, the Islamabad High Court had also asked the former prime minister to ensure that he cooperated with the police in the case's investigation.

The notice stated that the PTI chief was on bail in the case till September 12. Therefore, he should appear before the investigation team at 5 pm on Sunday (today) to ensure that he responded to its queries.

Although the PTI chief did not appear before the JIT, he had submitted a reply to it on Friday through his lawyer, maintaining that because of political rivalry, the “imported government” had his aide Shahbaz Gill arrested and tortured in custody.

He had added that whatever he had said in his speech neither fell under the category of terrorism nor was it his intention to say it.
The terrorism case pertained to his controversial remarks about judge Zeba and the Islamabad police.

“Listen Director Inspector General [of police], we’re not going to let you go, we’re going to file a case against you. And madam magistrate you should also get ready, we will take action against you,” the PTI chief had told his supporters during a rally in support of Gill last month.
Gill was arrested last month on sedition charges after he urged soldiers to disobey orders from military leaders.

The PTI chief, in his statement, had claimed that he had not carried out any illegal act that would spread chaos. He had added that he was innocent and the case should be dismissed. In his speech, Imran stated that he had urged to take legal action against those involved in illegal activities.

An FIR was registered against the PTI chief on August 21 under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) for threatening the judge and senior police officers of the Islamabad police at a rally in the federal capital’s F-9 Park.

The FIR was registered on the complaint of magistrate Ali Javed at Islamabad’s Margalla police station under Section 7 of the ATA.
Imran managed to secure transit bail till August 25 from the IHC, but was asked to approach the ATC as it was the relevant forum.

Then the trial court extended the interim bail till September 12 in the case.