ISLAMABAD: Imran, former Prime Minister and Pakistani leader of Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khan was released Thursday on bail until September 1 in a case of allegedly issuing statements threatening a female judge at a public rally in Islamabad last week.
The Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Sunday granted bail in the case registered against Khan under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act for allegedly ‘threatening’ the judge and senior police officers during of his speech at the rally.
Speaking to reporters after his release on bail, Khan said the terror case against him had made Pakistan a “laughing stock” around the world and projected the country as a “banana republic”.
At last week’s rally, Khan reiterated allegations of “judicial bias” and warned judges of the consequences. He had appointed an additional district and session judge Zeba Chaudhrywho had approved a two-day physical pretrial detention of Khan’s former chief of staff Shahbaz Gill in a sedition case, saying she should prepare for dire consequences.
Chaudhry’s case has already been taken up by the Islamabad High Court, which filed contempt proceedings against the ousted prime minister and issued him with a writ for August 31 to explain his position.
In his bail plea, Khan argued that the terrorism case against him was recorded by police as an “act of revenge”. Khan’s Council Babar Awan told the court that none of the three people – a judge, the inspector general of Islamabad and the deputy inspector general of police – whom the former prime minister was accused of threatening were involved in this affair. Instead, Ali Javed, a magistrate, was the petitioner, Awan argued.
As Awan sought to continue his arguments, the judge stopped him, saying it was unnecessary without the prosecution’s assertion. The court then granted Khan a one-week provisional bond against a bond of Rs 1 lakh (Pakistani) – about $500 – and issued notices to the petitioner and the prosecutor for their answers in the case.
Speaking after the hearing, Khan reiterated his demand for revenge. “Our party member Shahbaz Gill was tortured and sexually abused, and in response I said I would take legal action against police officers and a magistrate who returned him to the police for remand despite the evidence of torture. But, ironically, a terrorism case was filed against me,” Khan said.
Khan was also released on bail until September 7 in another case related to an alleged violation of Article 144 (prohibition of public gatherings) at a rally he organized in Islamabad on August 20.
The Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Sunday granted bail in the case registered against Khan under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act for allegedly ‘threatening’ the judge and senior police officers during of his speech at the rally.
Speaking to reporters after his release on bail, Khan said the terror case against him had made Pakistan a “laughing stock” around the world and projected the country as a “banana republic”.
At last week’s rally, Khan reiterated allegations of “judicial bias” and warned judges of the consequences. He had appointed an additional district and session judge Zeba Chaudhrywho had approved a two-day physical pretrial detention of Khan’s former chief of staff Shahbaz Gill in a sedition case, saying she should prepare for dire consequences.
Chaudhry’s case has already been taken up by the Islamabad High Court, which filed contempt proceedings against the ousted prime minister and issued him with a writ for August 31 to explain his position.
In his bail plea, Khan argued that the terrorism case against him was recorded by police as an “act of revenge”. Khan’s Council Babar Awan told the court that none of the three people – a judge, the inspector general of Islamabad and the deputy inspector general of police – whom the former prime minister was accused of threatening were involved in this affair. Instead, Ali Javed, a magistrate, was the petitioner, Awan argued.
As Awan sought to continue his arguments, the judge stopped him, saying it was unnecessary without the prosecution’s assertion. The court then granted Khan a one-week provisional bond against a bond of Rs 1 lakh (Pakistani) – about $500 – and issued notices to the petitioner and the prosecutor for their answers in the case.
Speaking after the hearing, Khan reiterated his demand for revenge. “Our party member Shahbaz Gill was tortured and sexually abused, and in response I said I would take legal action against police officers and a magistrate who returned him to the police for remand despite the evidence of torture. But, ironically, a terrorism case was filed against me,” Khan said.
Khan was also released on bail until September 7 in another case related to an alleged violation of Article 144 (prohibition of public gatherings) at a rally he organized in Islamabad on August 20.
