Ex-Pak PM Imran Khan to undergo polygraph test in May 9 violence cases
Lahore, May 15 (PTI): A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has allowed police to conduct polygraph (lie detection) and photogrammetric (facial and voice analysis) tests of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan in cases related to the May 9 violence, an official said on Thursday.
The tests will be conducted for 12 terrorism cases against Khan related to the violent protests which erupted on May 9, 2023, after his arrest by paramilitary Rangers from the Islamabad High Court premises.
"ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill accepted the request of the prosecution on Wednesday and allowed police to conduct polygraph and photogrammetric tests of Imran Khan within 12 days at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi in 12 terrorism cases, including attack on the Lahore Corps Commander House known as Jinnah House," a court official said on Thursday.
During the violence, supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) allegedly vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Jinnah House (Lahore Corps Commander House), the Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. A mob also attacked the Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
Khan's lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar opposed the prosecution request, questioning the police decision to conduct the polygraph and photogrammetric tests 727 days after the May 9 incidents.
He said that bail has already been granted to the PTI founder in 21 terrorism cases.
"The prosecution is seeking both tests of Mr Khan in 12 cases in which he already has recorded statements declared lawful by the Lahore High Court," Safdar said and urged the court to dismiss the prosecution's petition.
Special Prosecutor Rana Aazar argued that the Supreme Court allowed such tests to fulfil investigative requirements, Khan, however, refused to undergo these tests in jail without the presence of his lawyer. "Conducting the voice match test of the accused is a legal requirement," he said.
After hearing both sides, the judge accepted the prosecution's plea, allowing it to conduct the tests within 12 days.
Khan has been imprisoned at high-security Adiala Jail since August 2023 in multiple cases.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan strongly dismissed rumours about any deal between Khan and the government, terming these as "mere speculations".
Addressing media representatives outside the Parliament House on Thursday, he said that if the former prime minister had opted for a deal, he would not be in jail.
Gohar added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had extended an offer during a session of the National Assembly, which was welcomed.
"We informed him (Shehbaz) that we would consult Imran Khan and the party before making any decision," he said.
Gohar said that he conveyed Shehbaz's offer to Khan, but declined to disclose details of the discussions or Khan’s instructions on the negotiation process.
"I cannot share the specifics of our conversation," he said.
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Bengaluru police debunks viral video claiming ‘zombie drug’; Here’s what they said ?
A viral video claiming the presence of “zombie drugs” in Bengaluru has been debunked following an investigation by the Bangalore City Police.
The video, which circulated widely on social media platforms, showed a man in a disoriented state and was shared with claims that a dangerous new drug had entered the city.
It was reportedly filmed near a college in the Bagalur area, where the individual was seen standing still with little response to his surroundings.
In a release, the police said the video had come to their notice, following which personnel from the Bagalur Police Station traced and secured the individual near Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology.
He was then subjected to a medical examination.
According to the police, medical reports showed that no known narcotic or psychotropic substances were detected.
The police said the individual is suffering from arthritis and had consumed prescribed pain medication along with alcohol, which led to his disoriented condition as seen in the video.
Further inquiry found that the individual had come to Bengaluru in search of livelihood and has been residing in the city for the past three months. Further investigation is ongoing.
The police urged the public not to share unverified or misleading information on social media, stating that such content can create unnecessary panic and harm individuals’ reputation.
They also warned that strict action would be taken against those spreading false information or rumours.
