ISLAMABAD: Arrests warrants will be issued against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairperson Imran Khan if he does not appear in the next hearing of the case of torture of SSP Asmatullah Junejo during the 2014 sit-in, an anti-terrorism court warned on Wednesday.
The PTI chief did not appear in the court despite summons issued in his name by ATC judge Shahrukh Arjumand earlier in the day.
When SSP Junejo arrived for the hearing, the court administration informed him that his presence was not required during the hearing. Junejo expressed surprise, saying he had been asked to reach the court immediately by the legal branch. “I left in the middle of an active investigation,” he added. When questioned, the legal branch stated that no call had been made to the police official.
The judge then adjourned the announcement of verdict on Imran’s acquittal plea to May 4.
Earlier, during the proceedings, a request was submitted for Imran’s exemption from attending the hearing. The request was denied on grounds that the verdict had to be announced in presence of the accused.
The ATC had reserved its verdict on acquittal plea after hearing arguments from PTI chief’s counsel Dr Babar Awan and Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Shafqaat in the SSP torture case on April 10.
Imran, Asad Umar and other PTI leaders were expected to appear in court on Wednesday for the hearing of the case regarding an attack on the Parliament and PTV buildings during the PTI’s 2014 sit-in. The PTI chief and other party leaders are accused of attacking the Parliament and PTV office during the 2014 sit-in in Islamabad, as well as torturing the then SSP and violating the loud speakers act.
The PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leaders were accused after they marched towards the Parliament and PM House during the 2014 sit-in after the Model Town incident. They also clashed with policemen along their way.
The other cases were lodged after PTI and PAT workers ransacked the PTV office, Parliament premises and tortured Junejo.
Published in Daily Times, April 26th 2018.
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