ECP protests: IHC to hear Imran’s plea for removal of terrorism charges

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday fixed a date to hear Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s petition seeking to remove terrorism sections from an FIR pertaining to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) building.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhter Kayani and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri will take up the case for hearing on Tuesday along with the objections raised by the registrar office.

The registrar office had raised three objections against the petition, including missing biometric verification of Imran Khan and not attaching of documents of the anti-terrorism court (ATC).

Also read: LHC bench approves Imran’s plea for protective bail

The registrar office also said that the case should have been filed before the trial court which was a relevant forum.

The petitioner had prayed the IHC to suspend the operation of the FIR till the final judgment of the court. He said that a peaceful protest was right of every citizen.

The petition was moved by Faisal Chaudhry Advocate and Ali Bokhari Advocate on behalf of the PTI chief.

Earlier, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad had dismissed Imran Khan’s interim bail due to his continuous non-appearance in the case.

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.

Also read: ATC rejects Imran's bail in ECP protest case

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.

The FIR further stated that workers of the former ruling party tried ramming police personnel with vehicles, set public property ablaze in Faizabad, and damaged government property.