Imran Khan is granted interim bail in terrorism case until September 1

25-08-2022

Finia Hilmes

Pakistan & Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

Earlier today, former Prime and PTI chief Minister Imran Kahn was granted interim bail until September 1, 2022 against a surety of Rs100,000 in a case registered against him for his remarks about female judge Zeba Chaudhry and senior police officers at a public rally in Islamabad (Naseer, 2022).

At the rally, Imran Khan warned the judiciary against its “biased” attitude towards its party, stating that it should brace itself for consequences (Naseer, 2022). Specifically, the PTI chief warned the additional district and session judge Zeba Chaudhry, who had approved a two-day physical demand of his aide Shahbaz Gilla at the request of the capital police in a sedition case, that she would as well face serious consequences (Naseer, 2022). Furthermore, Imran Kahn threatened to file cases against Islamabad’s inspector general of police and deputy stating he would not be spared (Naseer, 2022). Consequently, Imran Khan was booked under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act on Sunday (Naseer, 2022).

On Monday, the former Prime Minister was granted protective bail for three days by the Islamabad High Court under the discretion that he would seek bail from the session court before the expiry of the protective bail (Naseer, 2022).

Today, the hearing started with Imran Khan’s counsel, Babar Awan, presenting his arguments. The counsel argued that none of the individuals who Imran was accused of threatening at the rally was a petitioner in the case but instead Magistrate Ali Javed (Naseer, 2022). Furthermore, Babar Awan addressed a new case that was registered against Imran Khan on August 20, 2022 allegedly for violation of Section 144 concerning bans on public gatherings exceeding for persons (Naseer, 2022).

After the court granted Imran Khan bail until September 1, 2022, Babar Awan requested the court for an extension of the bail which, however, was turned down by the judge stating that a longer period would not be possible (Naseer, 2022). Moreover, the judge issued a notice to the police as well as to the petitioner and the prosecutor (Naseer, 2022)

Sources and further reading: 

Naseer, T. & Dawn.com. (2022, August 25). Former PM Imran Khan gets interim bail in terrorism case from Islamabad ATC. DAWN.COM. Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://www.dawn.com/news/1706721/former-pm-imran-khan-gets-interim-bail-in-terrorism-case-from-islamabad-atc