Court approves interim bail of Imran Khan in threat to female judge case

• Court approves bail plea of Imran Khan against Rs50,000 surety bonds.
• Babar Awan files interim bail appeal on Imran Khan's behalf.
• Imran Khan appears in court in person.

ISLAMABAD: A sessions court of Islamabad approved the interim bail plea of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the case regarding his controversial remarks against a female judge during a rally in Islamabad, till October 13.

Khan was booked in a case for threatening judicial magistrate Zeba Chaudhry and police officers at a rally in F-9 Park on August 20, to “terrorise” police officials and the judiciary.

The main aim was to prevent the police officers and judiciary from carrying out their legal obligations, stated the FIR. The FIR was registered on the complaint of Magistrate Ali Javed at Islamabad's Margalla Police Station under Section 7 of ATA.

However, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) quashed the terror charges and directed to transfer the case to a relevant court under the remaining sections in the FIR on September 19.

Following the order the anti-terrorism court, on September 20, transferred the case to a sessions court and removed the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) section from the case.

On September 22, during a hearing of a contempt case in IHC, Imran Khan also requested the court to allow him to apologise to judge Zeba Chaudhry in person.

Later, a magistrate of Islamabad's Margalla Police Station issued the arrest warrant for PTI Chief Imran Khan due to his non-appearance in court. However, Khan acquired protective bail from the IHC till October 7.

Today's hearing

Imran Khan appeared before the court of sessions judge Kamran Basharat in person, shortly after his lawyer Babar Awan filed the bail plea on his behalf, just a day before the expiry of his protective bail from IHC.

The judge approved the bail plea of the PTI chief till October 13 against surety bonds of Rs 50,000.

Awan, while speaking to media after the hearing, said that all the cases against Khan are false.

"PTI is returning [to power] with one-third majority. If there is anyone who could bring the change, it is Imran Khan," he said.

The lawyer said that the PTI chief has never ever stated an excuse for being ill.

Awan went on to say that the cypher is an "interference and conspiracy."

"We don't accept anyone who talks against Pakistan," he said.

Speaking about the PTI's long march call, Awan said that they will soon march towards Islamabad but Imran Khan will tell exactly when.