Anti-terror FIR filed against Imran for threatening police and judiciary
ISLAMABAD: A first information report (FIR) was filed against PTI chairperson Imran Khan under the Anti-Terrorism Act in Islamabad’s Margala Police Station on Sunday. The FIR was registered on the complaint of duty magistrate Ali Javed.
The action was taken against the former prime minister after he delivered a threatening speech during his party’s rally in the federal capital’s F-9 park.
According to the FIR’s content, Khan blatantly targeted Islamabad Police’s inspector general (IG) and deputy inspector general (DIG), and Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry, who ordered Shahbaz Gill’s physical remand in the wake of his on-going trail for uttering seditious remarks.
The FIR’s text further read that the purpose of Khan’s speech was to intimidate the judiciary and Islamabad Police in a bid to prevent them from fulfilling their legal obligations. The speech by Khan has instilled anxiety, terror, and unrest among the public, stated the FIR.
PTI threatens police officials and magistrate
PTI chairperson Imran Khan on Saturday announced that his party would file cases against Islamabad’s Inspector General (IG) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), and magistrate Zeba Chaudhry.
While addressing his party rally in Islamabad’s F-9 park — held to condemn the alleged torture on his chief of staff Shahbaz Gill, the PTI chief named and threatened the female magistrate who ordered Gill’s physical remand.
“IG, DIG Islamabad, we will not spare you! We will file cases against you” Khan threatened the police officials, announcing to file cases against them and the magistrate.
“Magistrate Zeba Chuadhry, we will not spare you too!” the former prime minister angrily said, alleging that Chaudhry knew that Shahbaz’s was tortured and yet ordered his remand.
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 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 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.
Imran’s security withdrawn
PTI leader Shireen Mazari said the Islamabad police had withdrawn security from Imran and his residence since Saturday evening.
“This is against the law but who cares about law in this Imported government. Nation should know how conspirators are creating a life threat for Imran Khan,” she tweeted.
Islamabad police vow action
Earlier, the Islamabad Capital Territory Police (ICT) 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”.
“All officers are rendering their services with complete responsibility and continue to discharge them. The police is an organised institution and we are bound to perform our duties come what may,” the ICT said.
It added that the police could not indulge in any mismanagement. The capital police reiterated that it will take lawful action against “all false allegations”.
Pemra bans live broadcast of Imran’s speeches
Soon after Imran’s speech, the electronic media regulator slapped a ban on all satellite TV channels from carrying the PTI chief’s speeches live.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) communiqué — issued late at night — held that channels had failed to implement a time-delay mechanism which could curtail such occurrences.
In a four-page document that included a specific reference to Imran’s speech on Saturday night, where he had targeted police and judicial officers, the regulator said that only recorded speeches could be telecast, and those too would only be allowed if a time-delay mechanism was in place.