• IHC suspended arrest warrants against Imran Khan
• The court ordered him to appear before the lower court on March 11
• Imran Khan will be indicted in the Toshahkhana case

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended the non-bailable arrest warrants issued against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq accepted the PTI chief’s petition and directed to ensure to appearance before the lower court on March 13.

Additional Session Judge Zafar Iqbal had issued the arrest warrant after the PTI Chairman thrice skipped hearing for indicting the Toshakhana case.

Following the high court’s decision, the sessions court ordered the former prime minister to appear before it for his indictment in the case.

Imran Khan had submitted a petition in the IHC and maintained the sessions court orders should be set aside so that he could appear in court.

The sessions court was set to indict Imran in the Toshakhana reference on February 28, but his lawyer requested exemption from the hearing.

On March 5, Islamabad Police team was sent to Lahore to arrest Imran with the court summons. The police was unable to arrest him as the former prime minister was not present.

The PTI submitted an appeal against suspension of the arrest warrants in the Lahore High Court (LHC). However, the court dismissed the petition and retained the arrest warrants.

At the outset of the hearing on Tuesday, Imran’s lawyers — Ali Bukhari and Qaiser Imam — urged the court to cancel the PTI chief’s arrest warrants.

The court remarked that the warrants were not issued for arrests but to frame charges against Imran in the Toshakhana case.

Justice Farooq said the court has to adopt a legal procedure, saying that Imran did not appear in the sessions court today. “The law is the same for everyone. What can the court do?” the judge said.

The IHC CJ asked the lawyers to give a date when Imran will appear in court. The PTI lawyer said that Imran had severe security threats to which the judge replied that everyone was getting threats.

The judge said they have prepared a security plan for the high court and sessions court. He pointed out to the disturbances during the recent court appearance by Imran Khan.

He inquired if the PTI lawyers were ready to give an undertaking that Imran will appear before the court.

The counsel replied that several other cases had already been registered against the PTI chairman who is inside his residence and cannot even step outside.

The judge said that it was not possible to give relief in a case that had not yet been registered. The court gave the PTI chief’s lawyers 30 minutes to consult with Imran and decide when he will appear before the court.

When the hearing resumed, Imran’s lawyer sought a time of four weeks for Imran’s court appearance. Justice Farooq refused to give a time frame of four weeks.

Attorney General Jadoon said Imran Khan can appear in the courts on March 9. He said the PTI chief can appear in the sessions court early morning and come to the IHC.

Imran’s lawyers argued that they had reservations regarding the security to which Justice Farooq said the sessions court would assure the provision of proper security. The court then reserved its verdict.

Also Read

Toshakhana case: PTI challenged rejection of plea against arrest warrant in IHC

PTI challenged rejection of plea against arrest warrant in IHC Imran Khan...