JIT
It was revealed on Saturday that the Islamabad Police had called PTI Chairman Imran Khan to the city’s Police Lines Headquarters on May 10 and 11, where he will be asked to give a statement in four terror cases involving rioting near the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) and the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Imran was called by the Islamabad police in two instances on May 10 at 2pm, and in two further cases on May 11 at 2pm, according to notifications released on Friday. The warnings advise that if Imran does not show up, appropriate legal action will be taken.
Two terror charges were filed at Islamabad’s Ramna police station on March 1 and 2, respectively, after Imran’s presence at the Federal Judicial Complex on February 28. The first case claimed Imran had led a mob to the FJC, while the second claimed the same about the IHC.
Separately, Imran was detained in two more terror cases by the police stations of the Counter-Terrorism Department and Golra after the PTI leader’s fought — for allegedly attacking police and stirring up trouble outside the court.
A joint investigation team (JIT) was subsequently established on March 23 in order to conduct a “quick” inquiry into the terrorist cases filed against the PTI chairman and other “miscreants” in connection with the aforementioned occurrences.
The JIT was given a 14-day deadline to finish its investigation into all the instances and present a charge sheet to the courts, according to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.
Zulfiqar Hameed, Additional Inspector General of Special Branch (Punjab), was to lead the JIT, he had further stated. He had mentioned that its members were the deputy inspector general (headquarters) of the Islamabad Police and one officer, not below grade 18, from each of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence, and Intelligence Bureau.
The Lahore High Court stated on April 20 that although the inquiry could not be put on hold, the JIT’s actions will be governed by the outcome of the PTI’s petitions challenging the JIT, on which a ruling was reserved on Friday.
Punjab Additional Advocate General Ghulam Sarwar Nehang had stated during the hearing that the government’s JIT, which had been established in at least 10 instances against the PTI leadership and workers, could not be prevented from carrying out its duties.
Prior to the expiration of the former premier’s 10-day protective bail in seven instances, which was granted on May 4, the IHC has also called him.
