Dharna damages case: Imran, Qadri fail to appear in court yet again

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri again failed to appear before an anti-terrorism court hearing the SSP Asmatullah Junejo attack case on Thursday. 

Continuing Imran and Qadri's status as proclaimed offenders, the court summoned the witnesses on August 31 to record their statements. 

At the last hearing on July 20, the court had summoned details of Imran and Qadri's assets.

The court, which earlier this month ordered to temporarily seize the properties of Imran and Qadri till their production in court, had adjourned the hearing to August 24.

The two 'political cousins' face charges of destroying property in the Red Zone, attacking the state TV channel's building and injuring then Islamabad Operations SSP Junejo. 

In August 2014, violence broke out in the federal capital when PTI and PAT supporters attempted to break a police cordon and storm the PM House, using cranes to remove barricades.

The clashes between police and protesters resulted in the deaths of three people and caused injuries to over 560. Of the injured, 77 were security officials deployed in the Red Zone, including SSP Junejo.

The decision to march to the PM House was taken after talks between the government, PTI and PAT had failed to end the deadlock over the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The two parties were protesting 'rigging' in the 2013 General Elections.