Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan will be presented before an anti-terrorism court today (Thursday) in connection with a vandalism case. The Rawalpindi police are seeking his physical remand, according to official sources.
The hearing is set to take place at a special court in Adiala Jail, where Khan has been detained for over a year. This marks another legal challenge for the former premier, who faces multiple cases alongside his party leaders and workers.
Details of the Vandalism Case
The vandalism case, registered in September, accuses Khan of inciting arson and causing damage to property during a PTI protest on September 27. The FIR was lodged at Rawalpindi’s New Town police station under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
Co-accused in the case include Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI leaders Seemabia Tahir, Amir Mughar, and Aliya Hamza. The FIR alleges that PTI protesters disrupted public order by burning tires, obstructing roads, and clashing with the police.
The report further claims that participants attacked police officers with stones and iron rods, damaging several police vehicles, including that of SP Rawal. One officer reportedly sustained a severe eye injury from shattered glass. The FIR also alleges that government firearms were seized and fired in the air, creating panic.
Recent Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Khan was formally “arrested” by Rawalpindi police investigators on Wednesday, just hours after securing bail in a new Toshakhana case.
The FIR also names five suspects — Khalil, Imran, Sadaqat, Yaseen, and Tahir — who were reportedly arrested at the scene. It states that a petrol bottle was recovered from suspect Tahir’s possession. The charges against them include terrorism, attempted murder, vandalism, and interference in government operations.
Update on the Toshakhana Case
Separately, Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, are set to appear in court today for a hearing on a Toshakhana-related corruption case. The couple is expected to be indicted, with the judge warning Bushra Bibi to ensure her presence or risk cancellation of her bail.
The case involves allegations that Khan and his wife illegally retained a high-value jewelry set gifted by the Saudi royal family during Khan’s tenure as prime minister (2018-2022). The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) claims the couple failed to deposit the jewelry in the Toshakhana (state gift repository), undervaluing the set and causing a loss of approximately Rs35.28 million to the national exchequer.
The jewelry, including a necklace, earrings, a bracelet, and a ring, was valued at €380,000 (approximately Rs70.56 million) in May 2021. The rules required payment of 50% of the estimated price for personal retention, which the NAB alleges was not made.
With these parallel legal battles, Imran Khan faces mounting pressure as he and his party continue to navigate a turbulent political landscape.
