Imran gets exemption from court appearance
A Pakistani court on Tuesday gave Prime Minister Imran Khan permanent exemption from appearing before the judge in the Pakistan Television and parliament attack case.
Exemption applications by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, disqualified politician Jahangir Tareen, Ejaz Chaudhry, Federal Minister Shafqat Mahmood, Provincial Minister Aleem Khan, Saifullah Niazi and Raja Khurram Nawaz were also submitted during the hearing in the AntiTerrorism Court ( ATC) here. The court, accepting the applications, adjourned the hearing of the case till October 1. The premier’s application was submitted by counsel Babar Awan to Judge Kausar Abbas Zaid.
Mr Awan stated that he would represent the prime minister in future hearings, however, the premier will appear before the ATC when required.
He also submitted an affidavit in court which nominated him as the prime minister’s counsel in the case. In February, Imran Khan had appeared before an ATC in four cases, including the PTV and parliament attack case and Senior Superintendent Police Asmatullah Junejo torture case. During the hearing, the Pakistan Tehrik- e- Insaf chief had requested an exemption from the court.
On September 1, 2014, hundreds of men, allegedly protesters from the PTI and PAT camps, had ransacked the PTV office, Parliament premises and brutally beaten up Mr Junejo, less than 24 hours into his first day on the job as SSP operations.
Imran Khan, Pakistan Awami Tehrik ( PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri and several others were booked over their alleged involvement in the attack during the 2014 sit- ins in the capital.