LAHORE: The Anti-Terrorism Court on Thursday allowed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan to appear in the terrorism case through video link once.
The court extended the bail of Imran and other PTI leaders including Fawad Chaudhry, Ijaz Chaudhry, Mehmood-ur-Rashid and Hammad Azhar till May 4.
The former prime minister did not appear before the ATC despite being directed to appear in the court. Later, on the request of Imran’s lawyers, the PTI chief was allowed to attend the hearing through video link.
The PTI chief had filed bail applications in three FIRs registered at the Racecourse police station under the Anti-Terrorism Act. As soon as the hearing started, Imran’s lawyer requested the court to allow his client to participate in the court proceedings through video link. Khan’s lawyer further requested the court to give a date after Eid-ul-Fitr, which is expected to be on April 21 and 22. The court asked what would happen if the police needed to arrest Imran. The lawyer argued that Imran will surrender if necessary and will also join the investigation. The judge then asked what remarkable achievements Imran had achieved to receive such threats, adding that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and others were proceeding as usual. The lawyer argued that the police is still under the stain of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s murder. He further said that Imran had appeared in the courts when there was no danger but this time there were reports of snipers. However, the state law officer strongly opposed the arguments of Imran’s counsel.
The officer said he was not aware of any such threats and police officials could explain the situation. The court remarked that Imran could be handed over to the police, the security would be the responsibility of the caretaker government of Punjab. Imran’s lawyer, however, argued that it would be wrong to deprive his client of his right to liberty, adding that the Constitution has given its citizens the right to liberty. After hearing the arguments, the court reserved the decision for some time. Later, the court extended Imran’s interim bail till May 4 in three cases, allowing him to appear through video link.
