ISLAMABAD, Sep 15 (ABC): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday instructed the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) constituted by Islamabad police to determine whether a FIR under anti terrorism laws could be established against the PTI chairman Imran Khan or not regarding his threatening speech against a woman judge of a District and Sessions Court and police high ups.
Chief Justice Athar Minallah observed that although PTI chairman had used inappropriate words during his speech but Anti Terrorism Act (ATA)’s clauses could not be applied on this.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Saman Raffat Imtiaz was hearing the plea seeking to quash FIR against the PTI chairman.
At the outset of hearing, the chief justice remarked that the court had asked Imran Khan to join the investigation, and had also instructed the investigating officer to tell whether provisions of ATA could be applied or not.
Special Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi told the court that Imran Khan had appeared before the investigation team last day.
The chief justice inquired from the prosecution that what was said in the speech and how the terrorism clauses could be applied directing the prosecutor to read out the excerpts of the speech.
The prosecutor then read out the excerpts from Imran Khan’s speech that he delivered in F-9 park, Islamabad, last month.
The prosecutor read out: “Magistrate Zeba, get ready, we will take action against you.” He said that terrorism clause was applicable in this case.
Chief Justice Athar Minullah further asked the prosecutor that whether there was anything else other than his speech which was tantamount of committing terror by the accused.
The chief justice further went on to state that the charge against the accused was serious, also recalling that there was a decision of the Supreme Court related to where the anti-terror laws could be applied.
Justice Athar Minallah asked that whether both IGPs were so weak that they were affected by these words.
To which, the Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi replied that it makes a difference if the remarks were uttered by a former prime minister.
The chief Justice also inquired that following the accused’ appearance before the JIT, a day earlier, for interrogation, was there any attack made during that time, also adding that cases made by invoking clauses related to terrorism should not be made like this, as happened in the PTI chief case.
Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that many police personnel were martyred in the incidents of terrorism.
He remarked that they were here to protect the judge as contempt of court proceedings were going on in this matter.
The chief justice said that do not bring the crime of terrorism to such a small level.
Later, the court adjourned the further hearing of the case till September 19.