IHC directs Imran Khan to join police investigation in terrorism related case registered against him by Islamabad police
ISLAMABAD, Sep 06 (SABAH): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan to join the police investigation in a terrorism case registered against him and remarked that if he does not cooperate then “law would take its own course”. The court also stopped the Islamabad police from submitting a challan against PTI Chairman Imran Khan in an anti-terrorism court in the judge threat case.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz was hearing a petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) challenging the terrorism charges against the party chairman for making inappropriate comments against Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry and police officials.
The IHC chief justice also directed the PTI chairman to ensure that he cooperates with the federal capital’s police in the investigation of the case.
A first information report (FIR) was registered against the former prime minister in August under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) for threatening the additional sessions judge and senior police officers of the Islamabad Police at a rally in the federal capital’s F-9 Park.
The FIR was registered on the complaint of magistrate Ali Javed at Islamabad’s Margalla Police Station under Section 7 of ATA.
Following this, Imran Khan managed to secure transit bail till August 25 from the IHC but was asked to approach the ATC as it was the relevant forum. Then, the trial court extended the interim bail till September 12 in the terrorism case.
At Tuesday’s hearing, Imran Khan’s counsel Barrister Senator Ali Zafar informed the two-member bench that the police have added new sections to the FIR registered against Imran Khan. The lawyer then pleaded with the court to stop the police from taking disciplinary action until next week.
The court then asked the police whether they had submitted a challan in the terrorism case in the ATC as of yet. Islamabad Advocate General Barrister Jahangir Khan Jadoon informed the bench that Khan isn’t getting involved in the investigation.
“The police aren’t being given access to Imran Khan […] and this case is linked to Shahbaz Gill,” the advocate general informed the court.
The IHC CJ then said that this was a test case for the investigation officer (IO), and in case there is any offence which has been mistakenly added, he should remove it himself.
“The law will make its way in the case. But why is there a need to form a joint investigation team? What evidence is there except for a speech?” the IHC CJ wondered.
Following the arguments, the court directed the police to submit a report first in the case before it files a challan in the ATC.
“These are not some gentlemen standing before you, their uniforms are to be respected; they are symbols of the state,” remarked IHC Chief Justice as he asked Imran Khan to cooperate.
Imran’s counsel pleaded that three further offenses have been added to the FIR and that the case has been registered at the government’s behest under false pretenses. “We must have faith in the system of the state,” said CJ Minallah, “rule of law will be established when this is acted upon”.
Preventing the police from submitting a challan against Imran the court asked the police to submit an investigation report to the court. CJ Minallah also directed the IO to inform the court if terrorism charges are applicable or not.
The PTI chief’s lawyer Salman Safdar has assured the bench of Imran Khan’s cooperation as the division bench of the apex court adjourned the hearing until September 15.