ISLAMABAD: A plea filed by Imran Khan, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), seeking suspension of the non-bailable arrest warrants issued in the Toshakhana case, was dismissed by the district and sessions court in Islamabad on Thursday.
The court ruled that the warrants could not be suspended on the basis of an undertaking. During the hearing, Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal stated that he would stop the Islamabad police from arresting Imran if he surrendered before the court.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) reference against Imran sought criminal proceedings for hiding the details of Toshakhana gifts. Earlier this week, the judge re-issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran and directed the police to bring him to court by March 18. However, skirmishes broke out between the police and PTI supporters when the police reached Imran’s residence in Zaman Park. The two sides battled for two days, with other law enforcement agencies joining the Islamabad police.
Calm only returned after judicial intervention. In court, Imran’s lawyers argued that the warrants were non-bailable and that if the judge was “satisfied”, he could accept the undertaking, and the PTI chief would appear before the court on March 18. The judge maintained that the warrant was in place for Imran to appear before the court in person.
The hearing was then adjourned till 12 pm. After the hearing resumed, the government’s lawyer requested that the hearing be adjourned as the SHO who was supposed to execute the warrant was still in Lahore, and the ECP counsel was at Peshawar High Court (PHC) and would reach by 2:30 pm.
Imran’s lawyer gave an undertaking on behalf of the PTI chief and affirmed that Imran would indeed appear on March 18. The court was then adjourned till 2:30 pm.
