The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday ordered the removal of terrorism provisions from a lawsuit filed against PTI Chairman Imran Khan over his comments made during a protest in Islamabad last month against Additional Sessional Judge Zeba Chaudhry and Islamabad Police officials.
The decision was delivered by a two-person IHC bench under the direction of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah. The court mandated that the relevant forum would remain open for further discussion of the remaining aspects of the case.
The PTI leader was charged with "terrorism" under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act after making the contentious statements on August 20 during a party power show in the capital.
The former premier was charged with another offence for breaking Section 144. The FIR later received new sections, nevertheless, for which the PTI head had petitioned the court.
Sections 504 of the Pakistan Penal Code (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code (punishment for criminal intimidation), 186 of the Pakistan Penal Code (imprisonment for three months), and 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code (disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant) were later added to the FIR.
polarising remarks
Imran had warned the judiciary against its "biassed" stance towards his party at the Islamabad rally on August 20, adding that it should brace itself for the consequences.
The former prime minister also threatened Zeba Chaudhry, a district and sessions judge who had granted Shahbaz Gill's request for a two-day physical remand at the request of the capital police in a sedition case, that she, too, would suffer serious repercussions.
Additionally, the head of the PTI vowed to file proceedings against the inspector general and deputy inspector general of police in Islamabad, adding, "We won't spare you."
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