Islamabad (Web Desk): An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Wednesday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan’s interim bail in a case pertaining to a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) following its decision in the Toshakhana case.
ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan announced the verdict after waiting for Imran Khan, who was on interim bail, for more than an hour. However, the former premier can challenge the order in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to avoid arrest.
During today’s hearing, Khan's lawyer Babar Awan argued that the additional sessions judge had granted interim bail to the PTI chief till February 27.
Awan requested the court to extend the bail, adding that the PTI chief had tried to come but could not travel.
The lawyer said that Imran Khan neither tried running away from the country nor the court.
The judge remarked that the court would set precedents that would be fixed forever, adding that he would give the same relief to a powerful person as he would to the common man.
At this, Babar Awan said that the court should give last chance to his client. "I am willing to submit a surety bond of Rs10,000," he added.
The lawyer sought time for consultation with Imran Khan.
The ATC judge remarked that the court will announce a verdict if the bail petition is not withdrawn.
Earlier, the court had directed the PTI chief to appear before it by 1:30pm while rejecting his plea to grant an exemption from personal appearance.
A terrorism case was registered against the PTI chief in October 2022 after the Toshakhana verdict was announced by the ECP, sparking countrywide protests.
The former premier had been on bail on medical grounds after he was injured in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad during a rally on November 3.
Meanwhile, IHC ordered a banking court in the federal capital not to issue its verdict on the bail plea of Imran Khan till February 22.
The banking court had asked the PTI chief to appear before it in the prohibited funding case by 3:30pm at the expiry of his bail today, however, the former prime minister challenged the order in the IHC.