Court dismisses ex-PM Imran’s warrant cancellation plea in Toshakhana case
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday dismissed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s request to cancel non-bailable warrant issued for him in the Toshakhana case, upholding the former prime minister’s arrest warrant.
On behalf of the deposed prime minister, lawyer Qaiser Imam, barrister Gohar and Ali Bukhari had filed a petition in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal.
During the hearing, Imam had stated that the issuance of a warrant in a private complainant has been prevented to some extent, therefore, the court should cancel the arrest warrant for Imran.
In his remarks, Justice Iqbal maintained that on the morning of February 28, Imran’s lawyers had said that he would not come to the court.
The former ruling party has decided to approach the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to cancel the arrest warrants issued for Imran. PTI lawyers will file a petition in the high court after obtaining the detailed decision of the Sessions Court.
On February 28, the PTI chairman, accompanied by his party supporters, had reached Islamabad’s judicial complex to appear before the courts to face the prohibited funding and terrorism charges against him.
It is pertinent to note the Sessions Court, where the PTI chief had to appear in the Toshakhana reference and an attempted murder case, is located in F-8 Kachehri, which is around a half-an-hour drive away from the judicial complex.
During the proceedings of the Toshakhana reference, Imran’s lawyer had requested the judge to postpone the hearing by another five days.
The lawyer had argued that he was unable to present the deposed premier before the court. However, he had added that if his client managed to leave the judicial complex in time, he would appear before the court. Judge Iqbal, while issuing the non-bailable warrants, had adjourned the hearing till March 7 (tomorrow).
In the latest development on the other day, the PTI chief evaded arrest as his supporters prevented the Islamabad police from entering his Zaman Park residence in Lahore amid high drama.
However, the police were able to serve the notice on Imran, handing it to his chief of staff Shibli Faraz, for compliance of the arrest warrants issued by the sessions court of the federal capital in the Toshakhana case.
New case against ex-PM Imran, 150 PTI activists registered
A new case has been registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and 150 party activists for obstructing Islamabad police in implementing a court’s order against the former prime minister in the Toshakhana case.
As per media reports, the case, which also nominates Imran’s chief of staff Senator Shibli Faraz, was registered on Monday at the Race Course police station on the complaint of Station House Officer (SHO) Nadeem Tahir.
The development comes a day after PTI workers and supporters of the party chairman prevented the Islamabad police from entering his Zaman Park residence in Lahore amid high drama.
However, the police were able to serve the notice on the PTI chief, handing it to his chief of staff for “compliance” of the arrest warrants issued by the sessions court of the federal capital in the Toshakhana case.
On March 1, the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran in the Toshakhana case, hours after the PTI chief secured bail from an anti-terrorism court (ATC) and the banking court in two other cases.
Imran was required to appear before Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal. On his non-appearance in the case, the court rejected his application for exemption from personal attendance and issued the arrest warrants.
On the other day, a team of the Islamabad police led by Superintendent of Police (SP) City Hussain Tahir reached Zaman Park for the compliance of the warrant. Senator Faraz, reportedly, told the police that Imran was not available.
At Imran’s residence, the policemen were met with angry PTI activists, who were carrying clubs and other objects. As the police tried to approach the entrance of Imran’s residence, they offered resistance.
The PTI supporters also raised slogans in Imran’s favour until Faraz approached the team and spoke to them.