An Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan’s request for an extension in his interim bail.
The plea was made in a case pertaining to a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) following its decision in the Toshakhana case, reports DAWN.
The verdict was announced by Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan on the grounds of non-appearance in court.
In a short order released on Wednesday, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the court said: “It has transpired from the available record that multifarious opportunities have been provided to the present applicant [Imran] to put up appearance before the court but to no avail.”
It recalled that the PTI chief’s instant pre-arrest bail was preferred on October 24, however, he failed to appear before the court on October 31, November 21, November 28, December 9, December 19, January 10, January 31, February 10 and twice on Wednesday.
“Due to the protracted nature of the instant bail application, the matter cannot be stretched for an indefinite period, thus no further opportunity seeking dispensation from personal attendance shall be allowed,” the court said.
“Ergo, the instant application seeking dispensation from personal attendance in medical grounds for today is accordingly dismissed.”
The order further said that it is “sine qua non” (absolutely necessary) for the petitioner to put up an appearance before the court on the date when the matter was fixed for the final order.
“Therefore, instant pre-arrest bail petition is dismissed due to non-appearance of petitioner Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi,” it added.
The terrorism case was filed against Imran in Oct 2022 after PTI workers took to the streets and held demonstrations outside ECP offices across the country after it disqualified the former prime minister in the Toshakhana reference.
Soon after the verdict was announced, the PTI leadership asked people to take to the streets. Clashes were also reported between the police and protesters in Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi.
Earlier on Wednesday, the court rejected the ex-premier’s request for exemption from appearance on medical grounds. “Imran Khan should appear in court by 1:30pm,” the ATC judge said in an order announced at 1:20pm.
The PTI chief has been convalescing in his Zaman Park residence in Lahore ever since he was wounded in an assassination attempt during a pitstop his caravan made in Wazirabad while they were marching on Islamabad.
During the hearing, Imran’s lawyer Babar Awan told the court that Imran tried to travel to Islamabad but could not.
Previously, the court had granted the PTI chief the last opportunity to appear on February 15.
As the proceeding commenced today, Imran’s lawyer Babar Awan said that he wanted to present some arguments in the case and then proceeded to read out the FIR registered 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 February 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 giving some time to consult Imran regarding the matter after which the hearing was adjourned.
Meanwhile, the PTI said on its official Twitter account that Imran will hold a press conference at 6pm on Wednesday.
