ATC gives Imran 'last opportunity' to appear in ECP protest case

ATC says it will issue orders on February 15 whether the ex-prime minister appears in court or not

ISLAMABAD:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday rejected a request from former prime minister Imran Khan for exemption from appearance on medical grounds, granting him the "last opportunity" to appear before it on February 15

The court was hearing a case pertaining to protests by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party outside the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) building and charges of interfering in the government’s affairs.

Islamabad police had booked the PTI chief and scores of party workers on terrorism charges in October last year in the wake of protests after his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference. Cases were also registered against PTI leaders Senator Faisal Javed, Aamir Kayani, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Raja Rashid Hafeez, Umer Tanveer Butt, Rashid Naeem Abbasi and Raja Majid.

The first information report registered against the party members claimed the protestors had pelted stones at the police and FC officials, leading to many injuries. It further stated that workers of the former ruling party tried ramming police personnel with vehicles, set public property ablaze in Faizabad, and also damaged government property.

Read more: PTI supremo, workers booked for defying laws

During court proceedings today, Imran’s counsel Dr Baber Awan submitted the request to ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan seeking one-time exemption from attendance for his client on medical grounds. He said that the ex-prime minister could not appear due to his injuries.

He said that the FIR was registered on October 21, and his client got bail on the 24th.

The prosecutor opposed the request, saying all medical reports submitted to the court were from the Shaukat Khanum Hospital. The medical reports of the said hospital were not illegal, he said, adding that they were "making fun of the law".

The judge noted that Imran Khan had been seen walking in a video recently released from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore. The court said that it would issue its orders over bail on the next hearing whether Imran Khan appears before it or not.

The court asked the prosecutor to prove that the protesters had gathered outside ECP on the instigation of Imran Khan. The court also asked how sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) were added to the FIR.

Further hearing of the case was subsequently adjourned until February 15.