Islamabad (April 25, 2018): An anti-terrorism court on Monday delayed decision on a acquittal plea from Imran Khan due to PTI chairman’s absence and warned of issuing warrant against him if he does not appear in the next hearing on case on May 04.
The anti-terror court had to announce its verdict today in a case against the PTI Chairman Imran Khan for allegedly attacking the Parliament House and PTV buildings and torturing an Islamabad SSP during the sit-in against the incumbent government in 2014.
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The court rejected the plea from the PTI chairman to exempt him from today’s hearing and the ATC judge Shahrukh Arjumand who was hearing the case remarked that the decision could only be announced in the presence of the accused.
The court had reserved its verdict in last hearing on April 10 and ruled that it will announce its decision on Imran’s acquittal plea on April 25.
There had been on and off exemptions for Imran Khan during the proceedings in the case and in his last appearance at the court on April 10, Khan criticised the lodging of terrorism cases against him for undertaking a political struggle and said that terrorism case was even registered against those who hurled shoes at Sharif.
On March 27, the anti-terrorism court gave exemption to Imran Khan from appearing in court proceedings and adjourned the hearing till April 10.
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The counsel of Imran Khan Shahid Naseem appeared before the court and submitted the exemption plea on behalf of his client. The court accepted the plea and adjourned he hearing till April 10.
On February 26, Imran Khan appeared before the anti-terrorism court after an hour break was taken by the court, summoning PTI chief to appear before the court within an hour.
The ATC was hearing four cases – attack on the state television building, Parliament and Junejo – against PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek leaders.
Imran, whose exemption plea had been rejected by the court on February 23, was absent as the hearing began the early morning after assisting defence counsel Shahid Gondal appeared before the court.
Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, who is hearing the cases, ordered a one-hour recess.
The PTI chief reached the court premises after the recess ended.
On February 23, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) of Islamabad rejected the plea of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan seeking exemption from appearance in PTV and parliament attack case.
ATC judge Shahrukh Arjumand conducted an initial hearing over Khan’s petition.
On February 15, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday filed a plea for his acquittal and exemption from court proceedings in SSP Asmat Ullah Junejo torture case (PTV and parliament attack case).
The PTI chief appeared before the court headed by judge Shahrukh Arjumand hearing case of SSP Asmat Ullah Junejo torture case.
The PTI chief filed the pleas of acquittal and exemption from the court proceedings to which the court ordered to submit its copies to the prosecution.
The counsel of Imran Khan, Babar Awan, did not appear before the court due to his busy schedule and Advocate Shahid Naseem gave arguments in his absence. Naseem asked the court to decided on the exemption and acquittal pleas before indictment in the case.
During the hearing, Khan said to the judge that terror cases were registered against him for carrying out a political struggle. “Is carrying out political struggle a crime?”he asked.
The judge replied that the cases are in the court and they would move on with the court procedures. Later the court issued notices to the other parties and said that the arguments on the pleas for acquittal and exemption would be taken in the next hearing to be held on 26 February and postponed the hearing.
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