Pakistan court removes terrorism charges against former PM Khan
Islamabad, Sep 19 (EFE).- A Pakistan court on Monday ordered the removal of sections related to terrorism in a case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan over his remarks against a judge and two senior police officials.
A two-member bench of Islamabad High Court, headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah, announced the verdict in response to a petition filed by Khan.
However, the court ruled that proceedings on the other sections in the case would continue.
“The court removed terrorism charges and ordered to proceed on the remaining sections of the case,” Asif Iqbal, a spokesperson for the Islamabad High Court, told EFE.
According to the court order, “the proceedings in relation to offenses described under sections 188, 506, 504 and 189 of Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 shall continue in accordance with law.”
These sections deal with disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant (188), criminal intimidation (506), intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace (504) and threat of injury to public servant (189).
The case was filed against Khan in relation to his remarks at a public rally last month against additional district and sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry.
Chaudhry had approved a police request for a second physical remand of Khan’s close aide Shahbaz Gill even though he was allegedly tortured during his first remand.
Khan also held two senior officers of Islamabad police responsible for carrying out the supposed torture.
Moreover, the former prime minister threatened the judge and the police officers with initiating legal proceedings against them.
Earlier this month, the court initiated legal proceedings against Khan for contempt of court on account of his contentious remarks at the rally.
Khan was ousted from power in a vote of no-confidence in April. He has accused the United States of orchestrating the “regime change operation” for his visit to Russia on the day it invaded Ukraine. Washington has denied the allegations. EFE
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