In a major development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the removal of terrorism sections from a case registered against PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan over his remarks against Additional Sessional Judge Zeba Chaudhry and officials of the Islamabad Police during a rally in Islamabad last month.
According to the details, a two-member bench, headed by IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah had reserved the verdict on the case. During the hearing today, Imran Khan’s lawyer argued that the basic factors required to warrant terrorism charges were absent in the case.
“A terror case can be lodged for creating an atmosphere of fear and terror, not on the possibility of creation of such an atmosphere,” he said.
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Hearing the arguments, the IHC chief justice ordered the authorities to remove sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) from the case while announcing the verdict. However, the court ordered that proceedings on the other sections of the case would continue in the relevant forum.
Islamabad High Court (IHC) written order says that section 7 of Anti Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997 is not attracted on Imran Khan in the light of Supreme Court judgment. pic.twitter.com/sJ1YsVBSxp
— Hasnaat Malik (@HasnaatMalik) September 19, 2022
Terrorism charges against Imran Khan
During his speech at an Islamabad rally, Imran Khan threatened to file cases against Islamabad’s inspector general of police and deputy inspector general of police.
“We won’t spare you,” he warned.
Not holding back, the former premier had also taken exception to Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry, who had approved his close aide Shahbaz Gill’s two-day physical remand at the request of the capital police, and said she should “prepare herself as action would be taken against her”.
Shortly after, a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against him, claiming he threatened Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry and police officers at a rally in F-9 Park to “terrorise” police officials and the judiciary.
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Another case was registered against the former premier for violating Section 144. However, new sections were later added to the FIR, against which the PTI chief had approached the court.
The ATC had already approved the interim bail of the PTI chairman until September 01 against a surety bond of Rs100,000 and had directed him to appear before the court again.