ATC grants bail to Imran Khan in 2014 sit-in cases

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in cases related to the attack on the Pakistan Television (PTV) and then SSP Islamabad (Operations) Asmatullah Junejo during the 2014 sit-in in the capital city.

After his perpetual absence from the proceedings and issuance of non-bailable warrants for his arrest, the PTI chief finally surrendered before the court.

Judge Shahrukh Arjumand approved the bail for Khan against a surety of Rs200,000 in each case and directed him to cooperate with the investigation officer in connection with investigation of the cases.

Police had booked Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Dr Tahirul Qadri along with their supporters in a number of cases during the 2014 sit-in calling for the resignation of the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

In a case, 70 people were booked after a mob of protesters belonging to the PTI and PAT stormed PTV headquarters and forced its staff to take two of the state broadcaster’s flagship channels — PTV News and PTV World — off the air on Sept 1, 2014.

The protesters were also charged with attacking government properties including the Parliament House building.

Another case related to the attack on then-Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Asmatullah Junejo.