ATC rejects Imran's bail in ECP protest case

An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Wednesday rejected PTI chief Imran Khan's bail in a case pertaining to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after the former premier failed to appear before the judge. The former premier was on interim bail in the case and the court provided him the opportunity to appear today. Earlier, the hearing commenced without Imran under ATC judge Raja Jawad Abbas. Imran’s lawyer Babar Awan presented his arguments and made submissions before the court. He maintained that the terrorism section did not apply to the case and highlighted that if the court gave that finding, the case could be transferred to another court. The judge stated that the merit case could not be heard without the accused present, and that the current hearing was regarding the former premier’s bail application. The lawyer maintained that Imran could not travel for 'genuine reasons' and that no recovery was needed from Imran Khan in the case. He added that Pakistan was the only country where the entire cabinet was thinking of arresting the PTI chief. The judge stated that the court would set precedents that would be fixed forever, adding that he would give the same relief to a powerful person as he would to the common man. Awan said that an additional sessions judge had granted Imran interim bail till February 27 and requested that the ATC do the same. He reiterated that the deposed premier 'tried but was unable to travel'. Read PTI protests against caretaker Punjab CM The lawyer furthered that Imran had never 'tried to run away from the country or the court' and urged the court to return the bail application and state that the terrorism section did not apply in the case. Awan also sought time for consultation with Imran Khan, to which the judge stated that he should consult before the court announces its decision. Justice Abbas told the lawyer to inform him of the consultation by half past two. The judge further told Awan that he could still withdraw the bail application or bring a security bond from the Lahore High Court (LHC). At the start of the hearing today, the ATC rejected a request from Imran for exemption from appearance on medical grounds, granting him the "last opportunity" to appear before it on February 15 The court was hearing a case pertaining to protests by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party outside the ECP building and charges of interfering in government affairs. Islamabad police had booked the PTI chief and scores of party workers on terrorism charges in October last year in the wake of protests after his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference. Cases were also registered against PTI leaders Senator Faisal Javed, Aamir Kayani, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Raja Rashid Hafeez, Umer Tanveer Butt, Rashid Naeem Abbasi and Raja Majid. The first information report registered against the party members claimed the protestors had pelted stones at the police and FC officials, leading to many injuries. It further stated that workers of the former ruling party tried ramming police personnel with vehicles, set public property ablaze in Faizabad, and also damaged government property.

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