LAHORE: Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaniyat (PTI), was granted pre-arrest bail by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in relation to the May 9 riots. The ATC accused Khan of plotting with other activists and party leaders to “wage war against the state.”
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On July 9, ATC-I Judge Khalid Arshad issued a written decision stating that pre-arrest bail is an extraordinary concession intended for an innocent person, not for someone who has allegedly planned a criminal conspiracy.
Witnesses for the prosecution stated that on May 7, 2023, Khan met with top PTI officials and gave them orders to assault government and military buildings should he be taken into custody.
This, according to the prosecution, is what allegedly sparked the unrest on May 9, which included an attack on the Lahore corps commander’s home. The court also included video proof of Khan’s provocative remarks.
“On his arrest you all under the leadership of Dr. Yasmin Rashid would gather PTI workers and attack military installations, government properties and the police officials to create pressure on the government and armed institutions for his release,” the verdict reproduced the prosecution witnesses’ statements
The judge determined that accusations of political persecution lacked merit and stressed the importance of conducting a thorough inquiry to get proof.
“A peaceful demonstrator becomes terrorist when he hatches criminal conspiracy, disseminates it and shares common object with other accused, who being armed, attack, attempt to damage or damage the state properties like Jinnah House, intending to jam government machinery as per section 6 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, and he loses the normal rights of a law-abiding citizen,” the judge said
The denial of bail is connected to the Jinnah House, Askari Tower, and Shadman police station attack cases. Earlier, on March 1, another ATC had granted Khan pre-arrest bail in four other cases.
