ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) has deferred its decision on a petition seeking the acquittal of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in a case related to an attack on Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Asmatullah Junejo.

ATC Judge Shahrukh Arjuman was scheduled to announce the verdict on Wednesday, but deferred it after Mr Khan did not appear before the court. After waiting for Mr Khan for a couple of hours, the judge fixed May 4 as the new date for the announcement of the judgement.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Shafqaat said the verdict could not be announced in the absence of the accused.

Although Mr Khan’s counsel had filed an application seeking his exemption, the prosecutor insisted that it was mandatory under the law to announce the order in the presence of the accused.

May 4 fixed as new date for announcement of judgement

The court subsequently adjourned proceedings for a couple of hours.

However, Mr Khan’s counsel asked for a day’s exemption since the PTI chairman had to attend a public meeting in Mandi Bahauddin and was unable to attend the court proceedings.

Judge Arjumand also expressed displeasure that PTI leaders Shaukat Yousafzai and Aleem Khan were absent from the court’s proceedings. Mr Yousafzai and Mr Khan are on interim bail in cases related to violence at the 2014 PTI sit-in.

Both the PTI leaders appeared in court after the judge warned that their interim bail could be cancelled because of their absence.

The judge then extended their bail until May 10.

The court also took up applications filed by Mr Khan and other PTI leaders seeking a permanent exemption from personal appearance in the Parliament House and Pakistan Television attack cases.

These applications were pending before ATC Judge Syed Kausar Abbasi Zaidi, but since he was on leave, they were heard by Judge Arjumand, who granted a day’s exemption to the accused and postponed the matter until May 25.

At the time that the PTI leadership was granted an exemption, an accountability court next to the ATC was holding proceedings against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Flagship reference.

Mr Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz were in court when a reporter said the ATC had deferred its decision since Mr Khan was absent and had granted him a day’s exemption.

“This is why we called him ladla,” Ms Nawaz had remarked in response.

She said the courts were dealing with the Sharif family differently, regarding the recent denial of a week-long exemption so Ms Nawaz and Mr Sharif could visit Kalsoom Nawaz in London.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2018