Imran Khan evades arrest as ATC grants pre-arrest bail

Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Thursday successfully evaded police custody after being granted a pre-arrest bail in terrorism case--filed against him for hurling threats at Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a public rally. 

As per details, the anti-terrorism court (ATC) accepted the former Prime Minister’s bail plea against a surety of Rs. 100,000, stopping the police personnel from arresting Imran till September 1. 

The bail of former cricketer star will now be reviewed at the hearing next month. 

Imran Khan Thursday reached the ATC in Islamabad to seek bail in a terrorism case—accompanied by party workers and supporters.  

The cricketer-turned politician arrived at the court where judge Raja Jawwad Abbas heard his plea.

As per GNN’s live footage, Frontier Corps (FC) and Islamabad police personnel were seen deployed with batons, wearing anti-rioting gears around the judicial complex amidst thight security. 

Moreover, additional contingents were present inside court along with the FC to avert any untoward incident.

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

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday said the government would arrest Imran Khan if his bail plea was rejected by the court.

"If court approves his bail plea," he said adding that, "Then authorities would submit its challan regarding hurling threats to female judge". 

"Threatening a judge and high police officials was a criminal act," he stressed. 

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.

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.