Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah directed the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to make a decision and inform the court whether the terrorism charges apply to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan in the case of threatening a female judge.

“Imran Khan’s speech was inappropriate but how was he charged under anti-terror law?” the CJ questioned while hearing the PTI chief’s plea seeking the dismissal of the terrorism case against him.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Justice Athar Minullah and Justice saman Rifat Imtiaz heard the plea.

Imran Khan’s lawyer Salman Safdar, Special Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi and the investigating officer of the case appeared before the court.

“At the last hearing, we directed Imran Khan to join the investigation and had asked the investigation officer to investigate and tell us how the provisions of terrorism are applied?” the IHC chief justice asked.

“The provisions of terrorism against Imran Khan are still intact,” Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi told the court.

“Don’t downplay the seriousness of terrorism charges,” the judge said while responding to the arguments of the government’s special prosecutor.

“Tell us how the provisions of terrorism are applied?” he questioned.

The court directed the JIT to inform the court about its decision during next hearing and adjourned the hearing till September 19.