Imran Khan’s arrest warrants have been put on hold by the Islamic High Court until March 13.
If PTI head Imran Khan does not appear before the sessions court on March 13, the judge has issued a warning that he may be deemed an absconder.
Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), petitioned the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which on Tuesday granted his request. The IHC suspended his non-bailable arrest warrants issued by a trial court in the Toshakhana (gift depository) case until March 13.
The former prime minister was ordered by the court to appear before the sessions court on March 13 and was given a brief warning that failure to do so could result in him being labelled an absconder.
The former prime minister filed a petition with the high court to challenge the additional sessions judge Zafar Iqbal’s ruling for non-bailable arrest warrants in the case. Ali Bukhari, a lawyer, had submitted the petition asking for the order to be revoked. The plea argued that issuing a warrant without the ability to post bond was unlawful.
Imran’s legal team asked the high court to provide the PTI leader a four-week window of time to appear in front of the district court during the hearing.
Aamer Farooq, the Chief Judge of the IHC, insisted that he could not give Imran four weeks’ time without setting a precedent. He continued by saying that he was likewise unable to halt the trial court’s procedures.
In addition, Judge Farooq questioned if Imran’s solicitor would show up in front of the IHC on March 9 for the subsequent hearing of the matter. Imran’s solicitor responded that the issue was with the district court’s location rather than the high court.
Even after four weeks, the court’s location would remain the same, according to Justice Farooq. Then, Imran’s solicitor said that the court should grant whatever period of time it thinks necessary.
The summary trial had been scheduled for four months, according to the advocate general. Imran’s attorneys received notice from the court that the next hearing will be on March 9 at 3 o’clock.
Judge Farooq reaffirmed that there were dangers to the lives of judges as well, and urged trust in Allah (S.W.T) as “life is a deposit from Him”. Thousands of others who attended court, he continued, were “equally significant” in terms of their lives.
There was a rush, according to the IHC CJ, wherever district courts located. After hearing the arguments from the parties, the court reserved a decision in the case.
IHC offers Imran another opportunity.
Imran was given another chance by the IHC earlier today to select a date for his court appearance in the Toshakhana reference against him.
IHC Chief Judge Aamer Farooq questioned Imran’s availability as the Toshakhana matter was being heard in the Islamabad District and Sessions Court.
When Imran’s attorney informed him that he was “receiving threats,” the CJ insisted that the judges of the court also received threats “every day” and questioned whether he should close the IHC as a result. Judge Farooq instructed the solicitor to avoid making fun of the legal system and requested that the counsel specify a date on which Imran may appear in court.
The IHC CJ insisted that he would issue a notice for tomorrow instead of suspending the district court’s non-bailable arrest warrant.
The former prime minister gave his attorneys instructions over the phone to bring up the security risks to the court once more.
Imran Khan gave the order, “Tell the court that I have previously been attacked in Wazirabad. If the court made enough security preparations, he continued, he would “no difficulty” present anywhere.
Imran again fails to appear in court
Imran Khan had earlier that day declined to testify in the Toshakhana case before an Islamabad district and sessions court, claiming his injuries.
Sher Afzal Marwat, the former premier’s attorney, testified before the court that Imran was ill and “handicapped” as a result of having his leg shot at during the Wazirabad incident. He continued by saying that Imran had become the subject of a worldwide “spectacle”.
Marwat insisted that he would provide Imran’s legal team access to the IHC within “a day or two” and that he would also supply the power of attorney.
The solicitor asked the judge to set the case’s hearing for next week.
Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), stated that Imran had to appear before the IHC on March 9 in response to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) counsel’s plea for the hearing to be continued on that date.
Ranjha reaffirmed that Imran Khan would undoubtedly show up in Islamabad High Court on March 9.
According to the counsel for the former premier, he was informed that the PTI leader would find it simpler to appear before the district court the following week.
Imran Khan won’t appear before the session court even on March 9, according to Judge Zafar Iqbal.
On the podium, Ranjha said that the law should be followed and questioned whether the average person was also exempt from appearing in court.
He continued by saying that a continuous exemption application was submitted on Imran’s behalf, and the exemption was also approved.
The court insisted that the case would be dealt with legally.
The date for turning in the letter from the PTI attorney and holding the subsequent hearing, according to the ECP attorney, should be Thursday.
Judge Zafar Iqbal, an additional Sessions judge, postponed the hearing to 2 p.m.
The court ordered Sher Afazl Marwat, the solicitor, to submit his letter.
The judge asked the court to name a case that has been pending before the extra sessions court for so long during his remarks. Imran visited other courts, he continued, but did not show up in front of the sessions court.
