WEB DESK
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) quashed terrorism charges against former prime minister Imran Khan for his F-9 park speech.
The former prime minister had threatened to take “legal action” against the inspector general of Islamabad police, his deputy and a female judge of the lower court who had approved PTI leader Shahbaz Gill’s physical remand despite alleged evidence of torture of him.
Subsequently, the IHC summoned Imran in a court of contempt case for the alleged threats and directed PEMRA to submit the record of his speech.
The court in its verdict issued on Monday said that the anti-terrorism charges do not apply in the case.
“We declare that section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 is not attracted in the light of the principles and law laid down by the august Supreme Court in the case titled “Ghulam Hussain and others v. The State and other” [PLD 2020 SC 61],” the verdict read.
Other charges remain intact and the case will continue on the relevant forum.
“However, the proceedings in relation to offences described under sections 188, 506, 504 and 189 of Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 shall continue in accordance with law and, therefore, the case shall be transferred to a competent court vested with jurisdiction.”
