Imran Khan faces second round of grilling in Sept 28 violent protest case

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Strict security measures advised during Imran Khan's court appearance

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi police have started grilling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan in, what they described as, the second phase of interrogation, after arresting him in the case lodged at the New Town police station pertaining to alleged violence during a protest on September 28.

The News reported that Superintendent Police (SP) Rawal Raja Haseeb, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Legal Raja Inayat and Inspector Rashid Kayani interrogated the former prime minister in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on Saturday, on the third day of his physical remand. The investigative team had prepared more than 15 questions to ask Imran, which were formulated based on the interrogation of 23 suspects who were already in police custody after their appearance in court.

Sources claimed that the investigating team has acquired the social media posts and speeches by PTI leaders, as well as the records of people who met with Imran in prison. The probe body has also obtained the surveillance camera footage that is relevant to the case.

The questionnaire, reportedly, states that the former PTI chairman issued a call for action on September 28, which led to violent protests in Rawalpindi. It further alleges that PTI’s local leadership, including Seemabia Tahir and others, organised violent demonstrations on his instructions.

He is accused of inciting party workers to protest unlawfully and in violation of Section 144. The sources said that the interrogation lasted about an hour before the investigation team departed. The former chairman’s cell in Adiala jail has been officially designated as a temporary extension of the New Town police station, with its security under the control of Rawalpindi police.

The former PTI chairman was arrested in the New Town police station case on the night of November 20-21. Subsequently, the Special Anti-Terrorism Court of Rawalpindi granted the police a five-day physical remand to interrogate him at Adiala jail.