Islamabad (Staff Report): An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in all four cases regarding violence in 2014 sit-in.
Imran Khan appeared before the court after the court summoned the PTI chief as he and his legal counsel, Babar Awan, failed to appear before the court earlier today.
ATC Judge Sharukh Arjumand reserved the decision earlier today while hearing four cases regarding destroying property, attacking the building of PTV and Parliament, and injuring SSP Azmat Junejo during the 2014 sit-ins staged by PTI and PAT.
Earlier in the morning when the hearing commenced, Khan's lawyer Babar Awan had not appeared before the court due to his engagements in the Supreme Court. His assistant lawyer, Shahid Gondal, had appeared on his behalf.
ATC judge Shahrukh Arjumand adjourned the hearing until 12pm.
In 2014, Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek Chairman Tahirul Qadri staged a major rally in Islamabad against alleged rigging in the 2013 election and the Model Town tragedy, which had seen as many as 14 people killed and 100 others injured when police attacked Qadri's residence during an 'anti-encroachment' operation.
On Sept 1, 2014, while the sit-in was still ongoing, Senior Superintendent of Police Asmatullah Junejo had been beaten up by protesters on Constitution Avenue as they stormed the PTV headquarters and the precincts of the Parliament.
A case had been registered against Khan, Qadri, and others for torturing SSP Junejo and five other police officers. Both leaders had been declared proclaimed offenders and arrest warrants were issued against them.
