An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in the federal capital has extended Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan's bail on Monday in the terrorism case against him. The hearing of the case commenced around 10 am under Judge Raja Jawed Hasan Abbas but was adjourned for an hour after the deposed premier's lawyer Babar Awan requested the court to permit Imran to bring his car inside the premises. Following the court's permission, Imran left his residence at Bani Gala and appeared before the court at 11 am. PTI leaders Asad Umar, Azam Swati, Faisal Javed and others were also present. Special Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi also appeared before the court. As the proceedings resumed, Advocate Awan questioned if the PTI chief’s reply to the court – mentioning that he had submitted more than one – was not included because it was “private”. He maintained that he was ready to argue if the need occurred and was ready to give the new prosecutor time if he needed it. The prosecutor, however, stated that Imran had failed to appear before the joint investigation team (JIT) despite being issued three notices. Read Imran Khan again fails to show up at JIT The judge asked Awan if Imran had received the notices, to which he said that Section 161 did not state that the perpetrator had to appear before the police. “In the previous hearing also, the court's investigator said that Imran Khan did not appear, however, this is not written anywhere [that the perpetrator has to appear],” he reiterated. He furthered that the ex-PM’s statement was written down and not brought on record and asked why the police did not write the statement in the supplementary presented to the court. Awan stated that the police themselves had said that there was a threat to Imran's life from banned organisations. "What if Imran went to the police station and was killed?" he questioned. He maintained that "we offered the police to sit at the court this morning and ask the questions they have" but to no avail, adding that “the court can issue a show-cause notice to the police officer for faulty investigation.” Read Imran Khan again fails to show up at JIT Awan highlighted that even if the accused confessed to the police, it would have no legal status, and questioned why they had made it a condition for Imran to be included in the investigation. He further claimed that a written statement was submitted twice to the JIT and the investigating officer. “I offered [to the police] without asking Imran Khan that if an investigation is to be done, then do it under judicial cover,” the lawyer said. “They should decide if they want to investigate or harass,” he added. He asked the court to highlight the terrorism in the case, to which the judge replied that Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi would pinpoint it. Judge Abbas questioned why the lawyer was “engaged” for several days, with the prosecutor stating that the court was “now discussing” the accused joining the investigation. “It is up to the JIT or the investigating officer to decide what the mode of the investigation will be,” the prosecutor said. The lawyer questioned if anyone’s speech had ever been banned in the history of Pakistan. The hearing was postponed till September 20 and Imran Khan's bail was also extended. Earlier, the ATC had granted bail to the former premier till September 12 on a surety bond of Rs100,000. The hearing of the case had commenced around 10 am on September 1 but was adjourned till noon after the ATC had ordered the former premier to appear before the court for his bail plea hearing. While talking to media personnel outside the court today, Imran warned that he was “very dangerous”. He also told a journalist to not compare him to “terrorist" MQM founder and “thieve Nawaz Sharif”.
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