Imran, others booked on terrorism charges

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and some senior party leaders were booked on Thursday in a case of Wednesday’s violence during a rally in Lahore, which claimed the life of a PTI worker.

The first information report (FIR) was registered at the Race Course police station under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which also carried the legal provisions pertaining to murder, attempt to murder and other offences.

The other PTI leaders booked in the case included Fawad Chaudhry, Farukh Habib, and Hassan Niazi. They were accused of “threatening national security agencies” and “destroying the government and its institutions brick by brick”.

A PTI worker died during a police crackdown on the PTI rally to mark the start of the election campaign in Punjab on Wednesday. The PTI claimed that the deceased, identified as Ali Bilal alias Zil-e-Shah, died of police torture.

Police Spokesperson Syed Mubashir Hassan said on Wednesday night that “at least 11 policemen were injured in PTI activists’ torture”. He added two policemen were severely injured and moved to the General Hospital in critical condition.

Following the violent clashes, the inspector general of the Punjab police formed a two-member committee, consisting of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Elite Police Force Sadiq Ali and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Lahore Imran Kishwar.

The committee has been tasked with conducting an inquiry into the clashes between police and PTI workers outside Zaman Park and “ascertain facts, ensure transparency and find out the reason for loss of life and property” during the incident.

Imran had already moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking “foolproof security and permission to attend court proceedings through video link”. However, the court on Thursday turned down the PTI chief’s request for immediately restoring his security.

LHC’s Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh heard the petition. PTI’s counsel Barrister Salman Safdar contended that the petitioner had been given security till January 18 but it was taken back after the arrival of the current caretaker setup.

Safdar argued that the PTI chief had to appear before courts in criminal cases and there were security issues. Turning down the request for“foolproof security”, Justice Sheikh sought replies from federal and provincial governments by March 13.

Justice Sheikh also told the counsel that the petitioner was “seeking exemption from personal appearance before the courts”, adding that “if this is the case then relevant courts must be approached.”

In Islamabad, meanwhile, the anti-terrorism court (ATC) extended the interim bail to Imran until March 21. During the hearing, Lawyer Naeem Haider appeared on behalf of the PTI chief in the court of Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan.

Haider told the court that the government used rubber bullets and water cannons at the PTI rally on Wednesday. He alleged that the authorities mixed chemicals in the water that was used in those cannons.

The court asked if he had the evidence to support his claim or he was just making a guess. The lawyer replied that the PTI workers had said that the water from those cannons caused burning on their bodies.

Haider also told the court that Imran was ready to appear in the court but his life was in danger. He reminded that there was an assassination attempt on the PTI chief in Wazirabad in November last year.

Imran was receiving various messages that his life had been in danger, the lawyer said, adding that attempts were being made again to assassinate the PTI chief. He also pointed out that Imran had come to judicial complex, but another case was lodged again him.

However, the court remarked that Imran Khan was allowed to come to the courtroom. The lawyer said that 36 cases had been lodged against Imran, adding that a few more cases might be lodged by nightfall.

The judge said that Imran was not summoned by the ATC rather he himself filed a bail application. The government’s lawyer said that Imran’s life was in danger but he wanted to lead political rallies. He said Imran should appear in court rather than leading rallies.

Later, the court accepted the exemption request of Imran Khan and extended his interim bail and the hearing was adjourned until March 21.

Meanwhile, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Amir Farooq extended the interim bail of Imran till March 21 in a murder case filed by Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha. The court also directed Imran Khan to join investigation into the case.

In another case, a three-member larger bench issued notices to Imran on amending a petition against PTI chief for not declaring his alleged daughter Tyrian in his nomination papers during last year’s by-elections.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Amir Farooq and comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, also removed objections of the Registrar Office on the miscellaneous application of a citizen named Sajid.

In the miscellaneous petition, Sajid said that Imran won seven seats in the by-elections but he did not reveal Tyrian as his daughter in his nomination papers. In his 138-page plea, the petitioner brought 12 new documents against Imran Khan.

The petitioner requested the court to put the new documents, including a copy of the ruling of a California court, on record and make them part of the petition. The court sought reply from Imran on the plea and adjourned hearing till March 13.

In yet another case pertaining to threatening a female judge, Judge Rana Mujahid Rahim, accepted Imran’s request for a one-day exemption. He directed the PTI chief to ensure his attendance in court at the next hearing.

During the hearing, Imran's lawyer Naeem Haider appeared in the court and filed the request for exemption. The court approved the plea and directed Imran to ensure attendance at the next hearing on March 13.

In a separate development, a court in Quetta issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Imran on Thursday in the case registered under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA).

The FIR of the case was registered at the Bijli Road Police Station on the complaint of Khalil Kakar against Imran over the comments he made against state institutions and their officers during a speech on Sunday.

In the fiery speech, the PTI chief had come down hard on “state institutions” after a team of Islamabad police had arrived at his Zaman Park residence to arrest him in the Toshakhana case.

(WITH INPUT FROM OUR QUETTA CORRESPONDENT)