ATC transfers Imran’s case to sessions court

Development comes after IHC dropped terror charges against PTI chief

ISLAMABAD:

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday directed PTI chief Imran Khan to approach the sessions court for interim bail as the matter did not fall in its jurisdiction after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) dropped terrorism charges against him a day earlier.

 The case was heard by the ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan.

Imran's lawyer Dr Babar Awan read out the judgment of the IHC instructing to remand the case file to the sessions court.

The judge said that the police had not submitted the case challan to the court so the defence had to file an interim bail plea again to the relevant forum for relief.

The court then maintained that it would be appropriate if the petitioner withdrew his interim bail plea from ATC as the matter didn't fall in its jurisdiction after the decision of the high court.

After listening to arguments, the court sent the matter to the sessions court and disposed of Imran's bail plea.

It may be mentioned here that the capital police had registered an FIR against Imran Khan after he made controversial remarks against the judge and police officials during a party rally in the capital on Aug 20 and was subsequently booked for “terrorism”.

Later, another case was registered against him for violating Section 144.