Pakistan

Another case lodged against Imran, others amid continuing legal battles

FIR includes Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act

Our Correspondent March 01, 2023

Pakistan's former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, along with his supporters walks as he leaves the district High Court in Lahore, Pakistan February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Mohsin Raza

ISLAMABAD:

Another case was lodged on Wednesday against thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers, including party chief Imran Khan, for alleged vandalism outside Islamabad's judicial complex.

PTI leaders Ghulam Sarwar, Farrukh Habib, Shibli Faraz, Tahir Sadiq, Raja Basharat, Shahzad Wasim, Murad Saeed and Abdul Qudous Khan Swati are also named among those accused of allegedly spreading fear and terror among judiciary, police and the federal investigation authority (FIA) yesterday.

The case was registered on the complaint of SHO Ramna Rashid Ahmed.

جوڈیشل کمپلیکس اسلام آباد میں توڑ پھوڑ کا مقدمہ درج۔

مقدمہ 353/7ATA اور دیگر دفعات کے تحت درج کیا گیا،ہجوم میں سے کلاشنکوف اور دیگر اسلحہ سمیت افراد کو حراست میں لیا گیا۔

ایک منصوبے کے تحت جوڈیشل کمپلیکس اور ہائی کورٹ پر حملے کی کوشش کی گئی،25 افراد گرفتار کر لیے گئے ہیں ⬇️
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) February 28, 2023

According to the case details, a group of 2,800 “armed PTI workers stormed the judicial complex under the leadership of Imran Khan”.

Read PTI moves court against postings, transfers

The FIR stated that the workers were carrying firearms, stones and sticks, adding that they also tore the cause lists of the courts.

“The workers broke court benches and chairs of security staff and also threatened to kill the security staff,” it claimed.

The police added that the “PTI mob broke the security cameras installed in the court premises as well.”

The FIR was registered under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which includes sedition, interfering with the government and taking the law into one's hands.

Moreover, Imran's nephews Hasan Niazi and Ahmed Khan Niazi are named in another case under the ATA.

A day earlier, the Islamabad police had arrested 25 people for vandalism at the judicial complex on the PTI chief's arrival there.

The deposed prime minister, accompanied by his party supporters, had reached Islamabad’s judicial complex to appear before the courts to face multiple cases, including the prohibited funding and terrorism charges against him.

The police tweeted that the 25 people had been booked under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servants from discharge of duty) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

They maintained that the judicial complex and the IHC were attacked as “part of a plan”.