A local district and sessions court in Islamabad granted an extension in bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan and other accused till September 27 in the case of violation of Section 144.

Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal heard the case filed by the Islamabad police over PTI’s public gathering on August 20.

Babar Awan’s counsel told the court PTI chief Imran Khan was contesting elections from nine constituencies and was busy with it. Imran Khan addressed a public gathering in Peshawar a day earlier while he is scheduled to address supporters in Punjab’s Chishtian today.

“Imran Khan will not be able to appear in court today,” he told the court, while filing a request for exemption from appearance at hearing.

Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal inquired about the date of election, to which Awan’s counsel relpied that they are scheduled for September 25.

He added that the provisions in the case, filed at Islamabad’s Abpara police station, were bailable. He pointed out that was the 21st case against Imran Khan in which bail was being sought.

PTI’s Faisal Vawda lawyer informed the court that his client was in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah while seeking exemption. Asad Qaiser, the former speaker of the National Assembly, also had an exemption request filed on his behalf.

When the judge inquired about other PTI leaders including Shahryar Afridi, Raja Khurram, Ali Nawaz and Faisal Javed, the counsel of Babar Awan informed the court that Faisal Javed had another case elsewhere. He added that Javed was on his way to the courtroom.

The additional sessions judge asked the investigation officer if his investigation was complete. To this, the IO replied in the affirmative.

Lawyer Babar Awan told the court that Asad Umar was also on his way. He added that Umar was in Lahore on the day of the case in Islamabad. He added there was video evidence of the same.

On Senator Saifullah Niazi, the counsel informed the court that he was presiding over a meeting at the time of the public gathering, against which the case was filed for violation of Section 144.

Upon this, the judge instructed the IO to remove those who were not involved in the incident.

Later, the court extended the bails of all the accused till September 27 for violation of Section 144.

Earlier on September 1, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad had extended Imran Khan’s interim bail till September 12 in the case of threatening a female judge and police officers.