ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Islamabad has decided to announce verdict on Oct 29 in a petition seeking acquittal of Prime Minister Imran Khan in Parliament House attack case.

ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan during hearing of the application asked the defence counsel to submit written reply before the announcement of the decision.

The Judge, however, separated the case related to the acquittal of Mr Khan in PTV attack case.

The court will make a decision on the acquittal of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the case related to the violence during 2014 sit-in of the PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).

On Monday, counsel representing PTI’s provincial minister Aleem Khan filed an application seeking exemption for the minister.

According to the application, Aleem Khan has tested positive for Covid-19 and could not appear in person. Judge sought the medical report from the counsel.

Regarding PTV attack case, the court asked the counsel for the prime minister to advance arguments on Nov 12.

The counsel argued that there is no material on record against Imran Khan and the case was fabricated against him for political reasons.

He said Imran Khan had specifically issued direction to the party workers to remain peaceful and not resort to violence during the sit-in.

He argued that the miscreants who attacked the Parliament House and PTV building were not workers of PTI and PAT. He referred the supplementary report into this incident that exonerated the PM and other leadership of the PTI.

Judge Abbas asked him to submit that supplementary repot before the court record.

He remarked that the prosecution itself expressed unwillingness to proceed in this case.

In May 2018, the ATC acquitted Mr Khan in the SSP Asmatullah Junejo torture case.

Police had invoked the ATA against PTI chief Imran Khan and its leaders Dr Arif Alvi, Asad Umar, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Shafqat Mehmood, Ejaz Chaudhry and others for inciting violence during the sit-in.

As per the earlier stance of the prosecution, three people were killed and 26 injured while 60 were arrested. The prosecution had submitted 65 photos, sticks, cutters, etc, to the court to establish its case.

The prosecution was earlier of the view that the protest was not peaceful.

On Aug 31, 2014, PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers marched towards Parliament House and Prime Minister House and clashed with police deployed on Constitution Avenue.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2020