ISLAMABAD: Former PM and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was on Thursday granted interim bail till September 1 in a case of allegedly issuing statements threatening a woman judge at a public rally in Islamabad last week.
The Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted the bail in the case registered against Khan under Section 7 of the anti-terrorism act on Sunday for allegedly “threatening” the judge and senior police officers during his speech at the rally.
Speaking to journalists after his bail, Khan claimed the terror case against him had made Pakistan a “laughing stock” in the world and projected the country as a “banana republic”.
At the rally last week, Khan had reiterated allegations of “judicial bias” and warned judges of consequences. He had named additional district and sessions judge Zeba Chaudhry, who had approved a two-day physical remand of Khan’s former chief of staff Shahbaz Gill in a sedition case, saying she should prepare herself for dire consequences.
Chaudhry’s matter has already been taken up by the Islamabad high court, which has initiated contempt proceedings against the ousted PM and issued him show-cause for August 31 to explain his position.
In his bail plea, Khan contended that the terror case against him was registered by police as an “act of revenge”. Khan’s counsel Babar Awan told the court that none of the three individuals — a judge, the Islamabad inspector-general and deputy inspector-general of police — that the former PM was accused of threatening was a petitioner in the case. Instead, Ali Javed, a magistrate, was the petitioner, Awan argued.
As Awan sought to continue his arguments, the judge halted him, saying this was unnecessary without the prosecution’s contention. The court then granted Khan interim bail for a week against a surety bond of (Pakistani) Rs 1 lakh — around $500 — and issued notices to the petitioner and prosecutor seeking their replies in the case.
Speaking after the hearing, Khan reiterated his revenge claim. “Our party member Shahbaz Gill was subjected to torture and sexual abuse, and in response, I said I would take legal action against police officers and a magistrate who sent him back to police on a remand despite the torture being proven. But, ironically, a terror case was filed against me,” Khan said
Khan was also granted bail till September 7 in another case related to alleged violation of Section 144 (ban on public gatherings) over a rally he had held in Islamabad on August 20.
The Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted the bail in the case registered against Khan under Section 7 of the anti-terrorism act on Sunday for allegedly “threatening” the judge and senior police officers during his speech at the rally.
Speaking to journalists after his bail, Khan claimed the terror case against him had made Pakistan a “laughing stock” in the world and projected the country as a “banana republic”.
At the rally last week, Khan had reiterated allegations of “judicial bias” and warned judges of consequences. He had named additional district and sessions judge Zeba Chaudhry, who had approved a two-day physical remand of Khan’s former chief of staff Shahbaz Gill in a sedition case, saying she should prepare herself for dire consequences.
Chaudhry’s matter has already been taken up by the Islamabad high court, which has initiated contempt proceedings against the ousted PM and issued him show-cause for August 31 to explain his position.
In his bail plea, Khan contended that the terror case against him was registered by police as an “act of revenge”. Khan’s counsel Babar Awan told the court that none of the three individuals — a judge, the Islamabad inspector-general and deputy inspector-general of police — that the former PM was accused of threatening was a petitioner in the case. Instead, Ali Javed, a magistrate, was the petitioner, Awan argued.
As Awan sought to continue his arguments, the judge halted him, saying this was unnecessary without the prosecution’s contention. The court then granted Khan interim bail for a week against a surety bond of (Pakistani) Rs 1 lakh — around $500 — and issued notices to the petitioner and prosecutor seeking their replies in the case.
Speaking after the hearing, Khan reiterated his revenge claim. “Our party member Shahbaz Gill was subjected to torture and sexual abuse, and in response, I said I would take legal action against police officers and a magistrate who sent him back to police on a remand despite the torture being proven. But, ironically, a terror case was filed against me,” Khan said
Khan was also granted bail till September 7 in another case related to alleged violation of Section 144 (ban on public gatherings) over a rally he had held in Islamabad on August 20.