ATC grants 5-day physical remand of Imran

RAWALPINDI: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), Rawalpindi, on Thursday approved a five-day physical remand of former prime minister Imran Khan in inciting to violence case registered against him during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s protest call on September 28. The development came during the hearing of the case at the Adiala jail where the PTI founder chairman has been incarcerated for more than a year now.

Imran Khan was arrested in the case on Wednesday night hours after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) approved his bail in the Toshakhana 2.0 case pertaining to alleged illegal sale of state gifts.

PTI founder’s lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar and the public prosecutor appeared in the court for arguments.

During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor Zaheer Shah requested the court to provide 15-day physical remand of Imran. The prosecutor further contended that despite the imposition of Article 144, on the call of PTI supremo, the protesters attacked government property on September 28.

The prosecutor claimed that the plan was made in Adiala jail and the call was made from there by Imran.

Salman Safdar told the ATC judge that Imran had been in solitary confinement in the jail for one and a half years, how can he plan such a big operation from jail?

The PTI founder’s counsel contended that the case was a clear example of political vendetta as all grounds of the case were based on assumptions.

Later, the court rejected the prosecutor’s request for 15-day remand and granted Imran’s 5 days physical remand. The court ordered the PTI founder to be produced again on November 26 and directed that the former prime minister be interrogated inside the jail.

On Wednesday night, a first information report (FIR) was filed against the ex-PM at the New Town Police Station over the PTI’s protest on September 28 which saw party workers clashing with the law enforcement agencies (LEAs). The case registered under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) accuses the politician of inciting arson and causing damage to property.

The FIR also mentions that five suspects, Khalil, Imran, Sadaqat, Yaseen and Tahir, were arrested at the scene. It also claims that a petrol bottle was recovered from the possession of suspect Tahir.

Several police vehicles, including that of SP Rawal Town, were damaged, and one police officer sustained a severe eye injury, said the FIR, adding that the suspects seized government firearms and fired them in the air, causing panic.

Meanwhile, hearing of the Toshakhana 2.0 case was adjourned till November 26 here on Thursday. Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand conducted the hearing. Imran was produced before the court. Bushra Bibi did not appear in the court.

Bushra Bibi’s request for exemption from appearance was accepted. The defence lawyers filed an application to seek case record, but the FIA prosecutors sought time to present the record.

The accused could not be indicted on Thursday.

On the other hand, police security has been deployed at Imran’s cell. The security staff would perform duty in three different shifts. The first shift will perform security duty from 8 am to 4 pm, the second shift from 4 pm to 12 midnight. The third shift will perform security duty from 12 midnight to 8 am.

The City Police Officer (CPO) has sent a letter to the Adiala jail superintendent to deploy security duty for Cell No 4 in the prison.