Islamabad (Staff Report): Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Tuesday appeared before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in a case pertaining to 2014 sit-in violence.
The court heard four cases against the PTI chief, including that of the attack on the state television building, Parliament and the then Islamabad SSP Operations Asmatullah Junejo.
The court summoned the PTI chief after both he and his legal counsel, Babar Awan, failed to appear before the court.
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.
