PTI chief Imran Khan, Qadri declared absconders by Pakistan court

New Delhi, Nov 15: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf(PTI) chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek(PAT) leader Dr Tahirul Qadri have been declared an absconder by Pakistan's anti-terrorism court. The Judge Kauser Abbas Zaidi gave this judgment while hearing a case pertaining with an attack on senior Superintendent of Police Asmatullah Junejo in August when their parties were protesting.

The FIR registered against PTI and PAT workers in the case said that SSP Junejo was attacked and beaten, causing serious injury to him.

Earlier, the ATC on Wednesday had issued non-bailable arrest warrant against Khan, Qadri and 30 others from their parties on charge of storming the Parliament building on August 31.

Khan, however, dared the government to arrest him."I have just heard the good news about my arrest warrant. I want to make it clear that I was sleeping in the container that day," he said.

The PTI chief said the government issued the warrants because "Mian Sahib" (Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif) was feeling threatened by the PTI's plans to hold a public gathering in Islamabad on November 30.

Khan said that if he were to be arrested, the public gathering, which would take place in his absence, would be the largest in Pakistan's history.

"It will be very easy for me to stay in jail, because I have already been residing in a container for over three months, but I tell you, Nawaz Sharif, that you will have to pay a heavy price for my arrest," the PTI leader declared.

He said an investigation would prove that it was "a fixed match" and insiders were involved in carrying out the attack on the PTV building.

PTI workers were not involved in the attack, Khan clarified. "I myself had asked my supporters to stay away from the PTV premises," he added.

OneIndia News
(With inputs from IANS)