02 Dec 2024 (Press Ki Taquat Bureau):
An anti-terrorism court has placed former Prime Minister Imran Khan under a 14-day judicial remand in relation to seven cases stemming from recent protests organized by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The 72-year-old Khan appeared before the court at Adiala jail, where he has been held for several months, following the conclusion of a six-day police remand linked to a separate incident involving a protest on September 28 in Rawalpindi.
During the proceedings overseen by Judge Amjad Ali Shah, the court sanctioned Khan’s remand concerning the New Town police station case, along with six additional cases. The judge denied a police request for physical remand in these six cases, which were filed between September 28 and October 5, and ordered that Khan remain in custody. The former prime minister faces charges in six cases related to protests, with a total of seven cases, including the New Town incident, registered against him for demonstrations that occurred on September 28, October 4, and October 5. These new charges arise from protests that escalated into violence, following Khan’s call for demonstrations on November 24 at D-Chowk in Islamabad’s Red Zone, an area housing key government buildings. The protests, which turned violent, resulted in casualties among both security personnel and civilians. Khan’s call for nationwide protests on November 13 aimed to restore the PTI’s electoral mandate, secure the release of detained party members, and challenge the 26th Amendment, which he claims has bolstered a “dictatorial regime.” Notably, he has yet to be apprehended in the additional 28 cases related to the November 24 protest. Khan was previously arrested by Rawalpindi police at the New Town police station after being granted bail in the second Toshakhana case last month. Numerous cases have been filed against him following the collapse of his government in April 2022, which resulted from a no-confidence vote.
