ATC reserves verdict on Imran's exemption plea

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Tuesday reserved the decision on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan's request for exemption from attendance in a case pertaining to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)

The court, presided by ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas, was hearing an application for interim bail and the request for exemption was filed by Imran's counsel.

The PTI chief’s counsel appeared before the ATC and stated that the PTI chief's previous appearance in the judicial complex was available for all to see, adding that Imran would have been assassinated at the complex. He furthered that Imran himself wanted to go to the judicial complex, however, the current situation did not permit it.

Intense clashes had broken out between the police and activists belonging to PTI as Imran’s convoy reached the judicial complex ahead of his appearance before the district and sessions court in the Toshakhana case.

“The whole nation saw the action taken by the police against Imran Khan," his lawyer stated before the ATC. The judge remarked that the whole nation saw but the 'court could not because its cable was not working'.

Read Imran faces 36 cases in ECP, Lahore & Islamabad

However, the prosecutor argued that when bail is extended, the offender has to appear before the court. The court said that a decision would be taken if the PTI chairman did not appear before the LHC at 3:30 pm.

The judge inquired that if the request for exemption from attendance was approved today, was there a guarantee that the ex-premier would appear at the next hearing? Imran’s counsel maintained that the ATC had not summoned Imran thus far.

Later, the court reserved its verdict on the exemption plea, and adjourned the hearing till 3:30 pm.