Reasonable grounds exist to link Imran with May 9 offences: ATC

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court in Lahore has issued a written verdict on dismissing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s bails in cases related to the May 9, 2023, riots.

ATC Judge Khalid Arshad issued a four-page written verdict on Thursday after his court rejected the interim bail pleas of former prime minister in three cases related to the May 9 violent protests two days ago.

The verdict stated that two witnesses produced by the prosecution told the court in their testimonies that a meeting was held at Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore on May 7, 2023, which they also attended along with 15 senior leaders of the former ruling party.

In the meeting, the petitioner (Imran Khan) expressed fears about his arrest in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May 9, the verdict read, adding that the politico also ordered the PTI leaders to gather party workers under the leadership of Dr Yasmin Rashid in case of his arrest.

The party leaders, in the same meeting, were instructed by the petitioner to “attack military installations, government properties and police officials to create pressure on the government and institutions for his release”, the verdict read.

Furthermore, the deposed premier also recorded a video message to incite party workers, saying: “If I am arrested, the condition of the country will worsen like Sri Lanka”. The clip was produced by the prosecution along with its transcript. “Actually the case of the prosecution against the petitioner is that he hatched the alleged criminal conspiracy which was agreed by the top leadership/accused and the same was conveyed through modern devices especially online to the protesters/accused who in result of the alleged instigation, launched an attack, entered forcibly in Jinnah House and set it on fire while waging war against the state intending to over-awe the government,” it read.

The ATC verdict stated that the “recovery of alleged articles used for the recording of video messages of instigation is to be affected from the petitioner”. The court also rejected the allegations of “political victimisation” on behalf of the petitioner, saying the claims were “not appealing to prudent mind”.

“A peaceful demonstrator became terrorist when he hatched criminal conspiracy, disseminated it and shared common object with other accused who being armed, attacked, attempted to damage or damaged state properties like Jinnah House intending to jam government machinery as per Sec.6 Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 and he loses his normal rights of a law-abiding citizen,” the court observed.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the ATC stated in its verdict that Khan’s “pre-arrest bail has no merits and is hereby dismissed while withdrawing his already granted interim bail” as “reasonable grounds exist to connect the petitioner with the alleged offences”.