IHC orders removal of terrorism clauses against Imran Khan

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday ordered the removal of terrorism clauses in a case filed against former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan.

According to details, a two-judge IHC bench headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition. The PTI chief had approached the court to dismiss the terrorism case lodged against him.

Special prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi and Imran’s lawyer Salman Safdar appeared before the court.

The court announced the reserved verdict, ordering to remove the terrorism clauses from a case registered against PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

As the hearing started, the JIT submitted its report to the Islamabad High Court regarding its decision on the terrorism case against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan concluding that the team vouched for the terror case against the former premier.

The chief justice asked the special prosecutor about the JIT decision regarding the inclusion of terror clauses in the case against Imran Khan.

The prosecutor informed the court that the JIT was of the view that the terrorism case against the PTI chief was justified.

While giving arguments on the expulsion case application, Imran Khan's lawyers said in the light of Supreme Court decisions, that there is no case of terrorism against Imran Khan.

Salman Safdar questioned what image this case will portray of Pakistan in the world.

However, Chief Justice Athar Minallah told the lawyer to give relevant arguments only.

The court also ordered the prosecutor to read the transcript of Imran Khan's speech part having the threatening sentences.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked whether there was any sentence showing the intention of causing damage to ID or DIG.

Imran Khan’s lawyer said the provisions of terrorism have been made a joke by making this case as Imran Khan only warned the female judge and police officers of legal action.

Upon this, CJ remarked whether Imran Khan's conversation was not an attempt to influence the pending investigation in a case.

The lawyer said until filing the application for the expulsion of the case, it did not include any other provisions other than terrorism.

Upon this, Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi told the court that Section 186 has been removed from the case against Imran Khan while Section 189 for threatening to injure a police officer has been added to the case.