ISLAMABAD: A joint investigation team constituted to investigate former prime minister Imran Khan in a terrorism case registered against him for allegedly threatening Islamabad police officers and a sessions judge on Wednesday interrogated Mr Khan for at least 20 minutes at the office of the senior superintendent of police (SSP) in G-11.

The case against Imran Khan was registered at the Margalla police station after his speech at F-9 Park in Islamabad on Aug 20.

Accompanied by Senator Shibli Faraz, the PTI chief, who refused to appear before the JIT three times, also submitted a written statement in the case.

The ex-premier was quizzed by the JIT, which cross-examined him and also asked him to respond to a questionnaire compiled by the investigation team, police officers told Dawn on condition of anonymity.

As Mr Khan handed over his written statement to the JIT, the officers informed him that they wanted to ask him questions related to the case, and handed him a list consisting of 20 questions.

The JIT members also read his statement before asking him more questions. According to the officers familiar with the development, the police team also quoted from Imran Khan’s speech at Islamabad’s F-9 park wherein he had warned the police high-ups and judge Zeba Bakhtiar of the consequences in the Shahbaz Gill case. In public gatherings, such comments are made during speeches due to the charged atmosphere, the officers quoted Mr Khan as saying.

As per the officers, the PTI leader further said that during his 26-year-long political career, he never disobeyed the law, but still at least 18 cases had been registered against him by the current government.

Regarding his remarks about Shahbaz Gill during the public rally, Mr Khan expressed ignorance saying he did not know that the case was sub-judiced. About Section 144 which was imposed in Islamabad when the PTI took out the rally, Imran Khan claimed he was not aware that he was breaking the law.

The PTI leader responded to a number of questions before he was allowed to leave. The statement submitted by Imran Khan and his reply to the questions were later made part of the case file, officers told Dawn.

Earlier this week, an anti-terrorism case had extended the ex-premier’s bail till September 20 and instructed him to join the investigation.

The acting PRO of capital police remained unavailable to comment on the matter, despite multiple attempts.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2022