ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court on Monday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s plea to transfer the “attempt to murder” case to the judicial complex.
Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal pronounced the reserved judgment earlier today.
Khan’s lawyer Babar Awan filed two petitions on Khan’s behalf, seeking immunity for the PTI chief from today’s hearing and transfer of the hearing in the district court to the banking court.
The PTI chief is likely to appear in the banking court tomorrow for the hearing of the Tosha Khana case.
Advocate Awan, citing security reasons, requested the court to hear the attempted murder case in the judicial complex.
“According to reports from agencies, the district and sessions court are on security alert and there have been incidents of terrorism before,” Awan said, adding that Khan is scheduled to appear in the same court tomorrow.
Awan said that along with the former prime minister, citizens were also at risk in the district court.
On this, the judge said that Khan will have to appear in court, adding that this is the first time he has heard this plea.
The lawyer requested the court to transfer the hearing of the case. However, the judge said it did not fall under his jurisdiction.
Advocate Awan also requested the court to postpone the decision on Imran Khan’s bail extension request in the attempted murder case till tomorrow.
The court granted Khan’s plea for immunity from trial in the attempted murder case on behalf of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader.
Khan’s lawyer also assured the judge that the PTI chief would appear in court tomorrow in the “attempt to murder” case.
Awan assured the court that Imran Khan will appear in Islamabad courts tomorrow.
Meanwhile, PML-N leader Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha’s lawyer requested the court to order Khan’s medical examination at Pimz Hospital and grant him bail – which the court rejected.
The court also questioned the Investigating Officer (IO) regarding the investigation.
A USB was sent to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), but nothing was recovered, the IO said.
“Imran Khan is not in the video clips, he was not present at the scene,” he added.
Judge Iqbal expressed his anger on the IO and ordered him to investigate under Section 109.
Also, the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Secretariat Police Station said that Imran Khan had ordered the protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Has the plaintiff provided any evidence against Imran Khan? asked the judge.
On this the SHO said that USB is available. On this, the judge said that Khan was not present in the video clips.
Judge Iqbal adjourned the hearing of the case till tomorrow (Tuesday), directing the SHO to conduct a fair investigation.
Case of attempted murder
Muslim League-N leader Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha had registered a case against the former prime minister in the Secretariat police station of the federal capital last year.
The case was registered a day after an alleged attack outside the ECP office in Ranjha, where PTI workers and supporters were protesting against the election body’s decision in the Tosha Khana case. His party chief was disqualified.
