ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday announced that he will support Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) if Tahir-ul-Qadri launches a protest against the government.
The PTI chief gave the statement during his appearance before an anti-terrorism court in a case regarding destroying property, attacking the building of PTV and Parliament, and injuring SSP Azmat Junejo during the 2014 sit-ins staged by PTI and PAT.
Talking to the media, he reiterated his demand regarding resignations of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Home Minister Rana Sanaullah after the release of Justice Baqar Najafi’s report on Model Town incident.
Today’s Court Proceedings
Today, Khan made his third appearance before the court. During the hearing, police informed ATC Judge Shahrukh Arjumand that Khan had recorded his statement and he was no longer an absconder.
Babar Awan, counsel for Khan, said that the court should first take up the matter regarding its jurisdiction in the case as he had already challenged it.
However, the public prosecutor argued that Khan incited his supporters for violence, which is violation of Section 10 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Later, the court adjourned the hearing till December 11.
2014 Sit-in
Khan and his political cousin are facing charges of torturing then Islamabad Operations SSP Asmatullah Junejo and attacking state buildings and damaging public properties in Red Zone during the sit-in staged by PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).
In August 2014, a clash erupted between police and protesters in Islamabad when protesters tried to breach the security cordon after the government, PTI and PAT failed to break the deadlock on the resignation of then prime minister Nawaz Sharif
In the clash, three protesters were killed and more than 500 injured including police officials. SSP Junejo was also among the injured.
