ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairperson and former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday appeared before a four-member joint investigation team (JIT) probing a terror charge against him for allegedly threatening police and judicial officers at a rally last month.
The charges relate to an emotional speech last month at a rally in Islamabad in which Khan threatened Zeba Chaudhry, an additional district and sessions judge, for allowing police to interrogate Shahbaz Gill, Khan’s chief of staff.
Gill was arrested in August and charged with treason over making anti-military remarks during a show on ARY News in which he urged soldiers and officers to disobey “illegal” orders from their leaders. The charge carries the death penalty under a sedition act that stems from a British colonial-era law.
During the Islamabad rally, Khan directed his comments against the judge. “You also get ready for it, we will also take legal action against you,” Khan said at the time.
The JIT is headed by Farhat Abbas Kazmi, a senior superintendent of police (SSP) for operations at Islamabad police.
Khan faced some 20 minutes of the investigation and answered questions asked by the police, which later handed the PTI chief a written questionnaire containing 21 queries.
Talking to reporters after appearing before the JIT, Khan reiterated his demand for free and fair elections.
Speaking to reporters, he said the terror case against him had created an embarrassment for Pakistan.
He said Pakistan was being forced into a situation like that of Sri Lanka. Gill was kidnapped and subjected to sexual abuse and custodial torture, and then, while we were raising funds for flood victims, TV transmission was shut down, he recalled.
“The more you push up against the wall, the more we are preparing [for it]. If I gave the call for Islamabad, you won’t be able to cope with it,” said Khan.
