Terrorism case: Imran Khan to appear before ATC for pre-arrest bail

Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan will appear ‘in person’ before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday (today), to seek bail against terrorism charges. 

Babar Awan, a close aide of former Prime Minister, said on Wednesday that Khan would appear in person before an anti-terror court tomorrow.  

The PTI leader said this in a video message posted on the social networking site Twitter.

The former premier has decided to file a petition in an anti-terrorism court to avoid arrest in the terrorism case.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had granted pre-arrest bail to Imran Khan till August 25 in the case. Until then, the court said, police must not arrest him.

Imran was ousted from power in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April. 

The former cricket star was charged under the country’s anti-terrorism act on Sunday, a day after he gave an impassioned speech at Islamabad's F-9 park, condemning the recent arrest of one of his top aides and threatening senior police officers and a female judge involved in the case.

Khan alleged that Judge Zeba Chaudhry knew that incarcerated party leader Shahbaz Gill was tortured, but she did not release him on bail.

Khan had then said she [the judge] should brace herself for 'consequences'.

The PTI leader also threatened to take action against the Islamabad IG and DIG police.

Following this Pakistan's federal minister for information and broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb stated that the coalition government is least interested in "wasting time" by putting cricketer-turned politician behind the bars, for threatening the judiciary and a top cop as authorities step up probe after the Imran Khan's remarks on judiciary, Election Commission and the government - during a speech last week.