Imran’s bail extended in police torture case

islamabad — An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday extended the interim bail of PTI chief Imran Khan till December 11 in a case relating to the alleged torture of a senior police official during the 2014 sit-in.

Imran was present in the court in connection with the case which had been registered against him by the Secretariat Police in 2014 when he was heading an anti-government sit-in outside the Parliament House.

After hearing the counsel representing Imran, Judge Shahrukh Arjumand extended the interim bail till December 11.

Advocate Babar Awan, the counsel for PTI, also challenged the jurisdiction of ATC to hear the four cases filed against Imran Khan and urged the court to drop terrorism charges against Imran Khan.

In a request, Babar Awan sought the transfer of the four cases, dating back to 2014, to a civil court. The four cases relate to the torture of former Senior Superintendent of Police in Islamabad Asmatullah Junejo, attack on other security personnel and attacking the PTV building.

In his arguments, Babar Awan cited as precedent the dismissal of cases against the protesters who had camped out at the Faizabad Interchange for over 20 days. He also read the agreement between the protesters and the government which resulted in the end of sit-in.

Referring to clause 3 of this agreement, he said the government agreed to drop cases against the protesters and questioned whether citizens’ struggle for democratic rights fall within the scope of terrorism.

Judge Shahrukh Arjumand said not all the cases against the protesters had been dropped and the accused were still seeking bail. — APP