ATC extends Imran Khan's interim bail in terror case till Sept 12

• Anti-terrorism court orders Imran Khan to submit Rs100,000 as surety against bail.
• Imran Khan appears before court in response to summons issued to him by it.
• Court directs lawyers to wrap up their arguments at next hearing.

An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad Thursday extended the interim bail of PTI Chairman Imran Khan till September 12 in the terrorism case pertaining to his controversial remarks about the female sessions court judge Zeba Chaudhry and the capital city police.

The court directed the ex-prime minister to submit Rs100,000 as surety against the bail.

PTI chief Imran Khan appeared before the court to attend the hearing in person this noon, in response to summons issued to him by the court. He had obtained pre-arrest bail in the case till September 1 (today).

When the proceedings were resumed by ATC judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan in the morning, Imran Khan wasn't present at the court. 

His counsel Babar Awan apprised the court that his client’s life was under threat, hence he did not appear before the court. He maintained that Islamabad police issued a threat alert about a possible attack on Imran Khan.

The lawyer pleaded with the court to grant interim bail to his client. 

At this, the court remarked that only those who come to court get bail. There is no such example that a suspected is granted bail without appearing in court, the judge stated.

Meanwhile, Babar Awan filed a written application in the court seeking interim bail for Imran Khan. He told the court that four more charges have been added to the FIR. The lawyer pleaded with the court to grant bail to Khan in the new clauses as well.

Moving on to the prosecutor, the ATC judge noted that Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 (7-ATA) is added to the FIR only when a crime is committed.

“You have to prove which Kalashnikov was used in the attack and the attack was carried out by wearing which suicide jacket,” asked the judge.

The judge remarked that he would hear the arguments on the bail plea today.

At this, the prosecutor said that bring the suspect to the court first then they will start arguments.

Court summons Imran Khan

Meanwhile, the court summoned Imran Khan and took a break till 12 noon. Imran Khan appeared before the ATC when the hearing was resumed. 

Babar Awan apprised the court that his client has appeared in the courtroom in compliance with the court’s orders.

Starting his arguments, Babar asked, “Did Imran Khan give life threats to anybody? Did he order anybody to set anything on fire?”

At this, the court extended Imran Khan’s interim bail in all the charges filed against him. It directed the lawyers to wrap up their arguments at the next hearing and adjourned the proceedings till September 12.

'Govt, Islamabad police responsible if anything happens to Imran Khan': Babar Awan

Earlier, PTI counsel Babar Awan said while speaking outside the court premises that the party has submitted two written responses to the court.

"I told the court that if anything happens to my client, the government, IG, DIG Islamabad will be responsible," he said.

"They are withdrawing security from Khan sahab, and moreover, no police from any province can be present with him here," Awan said.

He said that he has submitted a threat letter to the court, received at Bani Gala, which stated the intention of some people to want to kill the PTI chairman.

Awan said that the court remarked that Khan should appear before it, to which the counsel told the court: "It's not as if Imran Khan is at Mayfair. He is in Bani Gala. I will bring him here at 12."

The case

A case was registered against the former prime minister under the Anti-Terrorism Act for threatening the additional sessions judge and senior police officers of the Islamabad Police during a public rally.

The party moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) where Khan managed to secure a transit bail till August 25, but was asked to approach the ATC as the case was terrorism-related.

The FIR registered against Khan states that he threatened Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry and police officers at a rally in F-9 Park to “terrorise” police officials and the judiciary.

The main aim was to prevent the police officers and judiciary from carrying out their legal obligations, states the FIR.

The FIR was registered on the complaint of Magistrate Ali Javed in Islamabad's Margalla Police Station under Section 7 of ATA.

What did Imran Khan say?

At a rally at the F-9 park in Islamabad, Khan warned that he would “not spare” Islamabad's inspector-general, deputy inspector general, and the female magistrate, vowing to file cases against them for "torturing" Gill.

“We will not spare the IG and DIG,” he said, while addressing the gathering.

The former prime minister called out the sessions judge, who had approved Gill’s two-day physical remand at the request of the capital police, and said she, too, should "prepare" as a case will also be registered against her.

The PTI chief led the rally in Islamabad from Zero Point to F-9 Park in support of incarcerated leader Gill, who the party claims was subjected to “gruesome torture” in police custody.