Dharna violence case: ATC extends Imran Khan's bail till Jan 2, 2018

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GEO NEWS
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ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) extended on Wednesday the interim bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan in four cases related to the 2014 sit-in violence. 

The ATC is hearing four cases against the PTI chief, including that of the attack on the state television building, Parliament and the then Islamabad SSP Operations Asmatullah Junejo.

On Wednesday, ATC Judge Shahrukh Arjumand accepted the PTI chief's request to extend his bail until January 2, 2018. 

On Monday, the ATC dismissed Imran's request to quash the terror charges and send the case to a lower court. 

The judge had then ordered Imran to appear before it at the next hearing on December 19 after extending his bail application for a week. 

Last month, Imran, 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 Imran and declared him a proclaimed offender as he had not appeared in any hearing.

Violence during the 2014 sit-in

Imran and his ally Pakistan Awami Tehreek (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 protest.

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.

Imran Khan appears before ATC, gets bail in all cases

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 the then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

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