ATC reserves verdict on plea seeking acquittal of PM Imran in 2014 PTV attack case

Published November 19, 2019
Prime Minister Imran Khan is one of the accused in a case  to the 2014 attacks on Parliament House and Pakistan Television (PTV) during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) dharna. — Instagram/File
Prime Minister Imran Khan is one of the accused in a case to the 2014 attacks on Parliament House and Pakistan Television (PTV) during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) dharna. — Instagram/File

An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Tuesday reserved its verdict on an application seeking the acquittal of Prime Minister Imran Khan in a case related to the 2014 attacks on Parliament House and Pakistan Television (PTV) during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) dharna.

ATC judge Raja Javad Abbas heard the case during which Imran's lawyer Babar Awan submitted an application seeking the acquittal of his client.

Government lawyer Chaudhry Shafqaat did not object to the acquittal of the premier in the case.

"We have no objection if Imran Khan is acquitted in the case," Shafqaat said, adding: "These cases are made on a political basis. Nothing will come of these cases, only the court's time will be wasted."

Awan presented arguments in favour of the application and said that terrorism provisions could not be added for a speech made during the dharna or for opposing Section 144 of the criminal procedure code (CrPC).

Read: PM exempted from appearance before ATC

Previously, various leaders including Prime Minister Imran, President Dr Arif Alvi, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and others were exempted from personal attendance in case proceedings.

On Aug 31, 2014, PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers marched towards the Parliament House and Prime Minister House and clashed with police deployed at Constitution Avenue.

Police invoked the anti-terrorism act against then PTI chief Imran and party leaders including President Alvi, Asad Umar, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Shafqat Mehmood and Raja Khurram Nawaz for inciting violence during the 2014 sit-in.

As per the prosecution, three people were killed and 26 others were injured while 60 individuals were arrested. The prosecution had submitted 65 photos, sticks, cutters and other objects to the court as evidence to establish its case.

The prosecution had said the protest was not peaceful and the PTI leaders sought bail after three years.

After hearing the arguments of the parties in the case today, the court reserved its verdict on the application seeking the acquittal of Prime Minister Imran. The verdict will be announced on December 5.

Opinion

Editorial

Geopolitical games
Updated 18 Dec, 2024

Geopolitical games

While Assad may be gone — and not many are mourning the end of his brutal rule — Syria’s future does not look promising.
Polio’s toll
18 Dec, 2024

Polio’s toll

MONDAY’s attacks on polio workers in Karak and Bannu that martyred Constable Irfanullah and wounded two ...
Development expenditure
18 Dec, 2024

Development expenditure

PAKISTAN’S infrastructure development woes are wide and deep. The country must annually spend at least 10pc of its...
Risky slope
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Risky slope

Inflation likely to see an upward trajectory once high base effect tapers off.
Digital ID bill
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Digital ID bill

Without privacy safeguards, a centralised digital ID system could be misused for surveillance.
Dangerous revisionism
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Dangerous revisionism

When hatemongers call for digging up every mosque to see what lies beneath, there is a darker agenda driving matters.