Imran Khan gets bail in prohibited funding, ECP protest cases after showing up in courts
Pakistan
The banking court is set to announce verdict on PTI chief's bail petition shortly
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – An anti-terrorism court in the federal capital on Tuesday granted interim bail to PTI chief Imran Khan in a case pertaining to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
ATC judge Raja Jawad Abbas announced the verdict after the former premier appeared before the judge amid tight security nearly after four months as he was recovering from the bullet wounds. A number of PTI leaders and workers barged into the judicial complex by removing the hurdles placed by security officials to avoid any utoward situation.
The Islamabad police had booked the PTI chief and scores of party workers on terrorism charges in October last year in the wake of protests which sparked after the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified him in the Toshakhana reference. The First Information Report (FIR) registered against the party leaders and workers claimed the protesters had pelted stones at the police and FC officials, inflicting injuries to many.
Read More: Toshakhana, attempted murder cases: Imran Khan's request for relocation of court rejected
Prohibited Funding Case
Meanwhile, a banking court has also approved his pre-arrest bail in the prohibited funding case. Special Judge Rakhshanda Shaheen announced the verdict. Earlier in the day, the PTI chief reached the judicial complex in the federal capital amid tight security and huge presence of party workers.
Mr Khan appeared before the court for the first time nearly after four months as he was recovering from the bullet wounds he suffered in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad.
During Tuesday's hearing, special prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi pleaded the court to cancel Mr Khan’s bail, saying he was not cooperating with the investigators.
A criminal case, which is being probed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), was registered against Imran Khan after a fact-finding report of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) found irregularities in the party funds in August last. Later, the ECP sent the case to the FIA for further investigation.
On Monday, a district and sessions court turned down a petition filed by the PTI chairman, seeking relocation of court hearing Toshakhana case and an attempted murder case against him to the judicial complex citing securing reasons.
Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal rejected the petition, saying it was the first time that a court had been asked to change its places for hearing the case. He remarked the cases would not be transferred and ordered Mr Khan to appear before him on Tuesday as he approved one-day extension in his bail.
Toshakhana case
Last year, the top electoral body had sent the reference to the district and sessions court under Sections 137, 170, and 167 of the Election Act, seeking initiation of criminal proceedings against Imran Khan for incorrect declaration of assets for 2017-2018 and 2018-19. The ECP, in the petition, has called for a three-year jail term and imposing a fine on the PTI chief.
On Dec 15, the court admitted the commission’s plea against Mr Khan. In its three-page verdict, the court noted that prima facie, the former premier didn't mention the details of the gifts he acquired from the Toshakhana. In August last, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) moved the ECP against Imran Khan over not filing the details of gifts he obtained from Toshakhana for Rs21.5 million.
Later in October, the ECP, in a unanimous decision, found the former prime minister guilty of “corrupt practices” and disqualified him from being a member of parliament.
