PM Khan gets permanent exemption from appearance in PTV, parliament attack case
Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi heard the exemption petition filed by the premier.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday granted permanent exemption to Prime Minister Imran Khan from appearance in the in a case related to attacks on Pakistan Television and Parliament House.
Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi heard the exemption petition filed by the premier. His counsel Babar Awan maintained that the co-accused can receive permanent exemption if there are more than one suspects in the case.
The prosecutor while expressing consent did not object over the request.
PM Khan, President Dr Arif Alvi, Asad Umar, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Shafqat Mehmood and Raja Khurram Nawaz face trial for allegedly attacking PTV building and Parliament House during 2014 sit-in.
Following this, police invoked the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) against them.
The president will be seeking constitutional immunity in the case.
According to Article 248 (2) of the Constitution, “No criminal proceeding whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President or a Governor in any court during term of office.”
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Finance Minister Asad Umar also filed exemption pleas in the court citing official engagements. Similar petitions were submitted by other PTI leaders including Jahangir Tareen, Aijaz Chaudhry, Shafqat Mehmood and Saifullah. All were granted by the court.
