Imran Khan records statement with police in ATC cases

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan recorded his statement with the police on the orders of an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in connection with the PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) 2014 protest sit-in.

The ATC is hearing four cases against the PTI chief including assault on state television building, the Parliament and SSP Asmatullah Junejo.

Last month, Imran Khan, through his counsel, had surrendered himself before the ATC, which then approved the PTI chairman's bail for Rs200,000 in each case. The court had earlier issued non-bailable warrants against him and declared him a proclaimed offender as he had not appeared in any hearing.

The court had also ordered Imran Khan to cooperate with the investigation and get his statement recorded before police.

The PTI chief appeared before police on Sunday and recorded his statement in Secretariat Police Station.

He is due to appear before the ATC on December 7.

The two 'political cousins', Imran Khan and PAT chief Tahirul Qadri face charges of destroying property in the Red Zone, attacking the state TV channel's building and injuring SSP Junejo during the 2014 protests.

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 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 then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

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