An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday dismissed former prime minister Imran Khan’s interim bail after he failed to appear before the court in a case pertaining to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan made a decision about the former premier’s attendance in the ECP protest case.
Imran was ordered to appear in person by 1:30 pm after the court earlier today rejected his appeal for a medical exemption from presence.
The court gave the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) the chance to appear before it today while he was on temporary release in the case.
Meanwhile, the PTI said on its official Twitter account that Imran will hold a press conference at 6 pm today.
Imran’s request for a medical appearance exemption was earlier today rejected by the court. The ATC judge issued an order at 1:20pm that read, “Imran Khan should be in court by 1:30pm.”
The PTI leader has been recovering in his Zaman Park home in Lahore since he was hurt in an attempted assassination while his caravan was making a pit stop there while they were marching on Islamabad.
The court has given the PTI chairman one final chance to present at the hearing on February 15.
The former premier had definitely made “false statements and incorrect declarations” about the present, the ECP found on October 21.
The Toshakhana is a division of the Cabinet Division that houses presents that foreign dignitaries and the heads of other states have given to heads and officials. Gifts/presents and other similar items received by those to whom these rules apply must be reported to the Cabinet Division, per Toshakhana regulations.
Imran was declared ineligible according to Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution, according to the watchdog’s order. Protests against the decision were held in front of ECP offices all around the nation.
Imran’s lawyer Babar Awan announced at the start of today’s session that he wanted to submit some points in the case before reading out the FIR filed against his client.
“The case against Imran was registered on the violation of Section 144,” he pointed out, arguing that in the view of the ATC, this was not a terrorism case.
“The court has already approved bails of other persons named in the case,” Awan contended. He requested that terrorism charges from the FIR should be removed.
At that, the judge said that the court was currently hearing Imran’s bail plea.
“Is the violation of Section 144 also punishable,” Imran’s lawyer asked here, adding that the additional sessions judge had granted Imran interim bail till Feb 27.
“I request the court to extend my client’s bail till then as well. Imran tried to travel but he couldn’t,” he said.
Awan went on to say that Imran “has never run away from court or the country” and appealed for a last chance. “I am ready to submit surety bonds worth Rs10,000.”
The lawyer then requested the court for time to consult Imran regarding the matter after which the hearing was adjourned till 2:30 pm.
