Imran Khan’s bail in ECP protest case rejected

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court rejected Imran Khan’s bail on Wednesday in a case registered against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief for protesting outside the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Imran Khan, who was on interim bail, was directed to appear before the court by 1:30pm but the PTI chairman failed to do so. After waiting for more than an hour, Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan announced the verdict.

The former prime minister, however, has the option to challenge this verdict in the Islamabad High Court.

The case was registered against Imran Khan in October last year after the Election Commission of Pakistan announced its verdict in the Toshakhana case.

Imran Khan was on bail on medical grounds after he was injured in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad during a rally on November 3.

According to local media reports, Imran Khan’s lawyer Babar Awan highlighted 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 Imran Khan had tried to come but could not travel.

“Imran Khan neither tried running away from the country nor the court,” said the lawyer.

The judge said that other accused should also be given relief if Imran Khan was given relief for a bullet injury.

At this, 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.

“Let me take instructions to withdraw the bail plea,” said the lawyer.

The ATC judge remarked that the court will announce a verdict if the bail petition is not withdrawn.