Rumours about Imran Khan’s arrest swirl after police book him under ATA

FIR accuses PTI chief speech of ‘terrorising’ top police officials and judiciary

Picture source - PTI social media

Rumours of the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan swirled on social media on Sunday, hours after the former premier was booked under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (punishment for acts of terrorism) regarding his
comments at his Islamabad rally a day ago.

There were also reports of contacts among leaders of the coalition government after PTI leaders asked party workers and supporters to take to the streets to protest against the possible arrest of Imran.

However, the rumours turned out to be just propaganda, as routine police deployment was seen at the PTI chief’s Bani Gala residence. A large number of PTI workers gathered outside Imran’s residence, whereas the central leaders also reached Bani
Gala. Moreover, PTI activists also gathered at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk in the wee hours of Monday. Earlier, it emerged that police teams blocked the routes leading to the PTI chief’s Bani Gala residence. Police installed barbed wire to seal the routes, whereas, heavy contingents of the Frontier Corps (FC) were deployed.

The development came after a case was against Imran for threatening an additional sessions judge. The first information report (FIR) was registered at Islamabad’s Margalla police station at 10 pm on Saturday under the complaint of magistrate Ali Javed.

The FIR said that at the PTI’s rally at F-9 Park a day ago, Imran had “terrorised and threatened top police officials and a respected female additional sessions judge” in his address. The FIR reproduced the PTI chairman’s comments when he spoke
about the female judge and the Islamabad police officials.

In his address on Saturday, Imran had threatened to file cases against Islamabad’s inspector general of police and deputy inspector general of police and said: “We won’t spare you.” The former premier had also taken exception to Additional District
and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry, who had approved Gill’s two-day physical remand at the request of the capital police, and said she should “prepare herself as the action would be taken against her”. The FIR argued that Imran’s speech was meant to “terrorise” top police officials and the judiciary so they could not perform their functions and abstain from pursuing any action against any PTI-related individual if required to do so.

The magistrate argued that Imran’s speech had spread fear and uncertainty among the police, judges and the nation. “Terrorism has been spread the country’s peace has been harmed,” he added. The FIR requested that legal action be pursued against Imran and an “exemplary punishment” be meted out. Islamabad police on Sunday vowed action as per the law against those threatening police or making false accusations. It responded to warnings issued by PTI Chairman Imran Khan against the capital police a day ago, saying “anyone threatening the police or making false accusations will be dealt with according to the law.”

Reacting to the PTI chief’s statement, the capital police said in a tweet that it will continue to perform its duties diligently. It said the police had taken an oath to serve the nation at all times. Islamabad police reiterated that it would take lawful action
against “all false allegations”.

Earlier in the day, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had said the government was holding legal consultations on whether to file a separate case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan for his “provocative speech” a day ago or nominate him in a previous case. In a press conference in Islamabad, the minister called out Imran for threatening institutions and preventing officers from performing their lawful duties.