Imran is given arrest warrants for failing to appear in the Toshakhana case, but the PTI leader receives a reprieve from the banking court and the ATC.
ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was given non-bailable arrest warrants on Tuesday by a sessions court in Islamabad for failing to appear in the Toshakhana (gift repository) case.
Following two postponements, the PTI chairman was set to be charged in the Toshakhana case today. The court went into recess after his attorney asked for an exemption from his client’s requirement to be in court today.
Nevertheless, when the hearing was resumed, Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal issued the arrest warrants for failure to appear and postponed the case to March 7.
Imran then went to the IHC to pick up his pre-arrest bail, which he had requested. Justice Aamer Farooq will preside over the case’s hearing.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) and a banking court already granted him relief.
The PTI leader arrived at Islamabad’s courthouse today to make various court appearances.
Imran requested interim bail until March 9, and the ATC Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan granted it. Imran was charged in connection with protests that broke out after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified him in the Toshakhana incident.
It should be mentioned that the IHC is currently considering a plea that challenges the “ridiculous” terrorism allegations levied against the PTI leader.
The media has been prohibited from the high court hearing where the ousted prime minister is expected to appear.
Case of prohibited funding
Judge Rakhshanda Shaheen of the Banks Court granted the PTI leader’s request for release.
The banking court has delayed all other cases set for hearing on Tuesday in order to accommodate Imran Khan’s attendance in the prohibited funding issue.
The PTI chairman requested bail in the case brought by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Commercial Banking Circle in Islamabad under the Foreign Exchange Act against him and other party leaders after they were charged with being the recipients of suspicious bank accounts.
According to the FIA, the Abraaj Group alone sent $2.1 million to the PTI’s bank accounts.
Although the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) determined in its ruling that the PTI had indeed obtained votes, the agency began its investigation into the party in August of this year.
Akbar S. Babar, a founding member of PTI who is now disillusioned, had filed the lawsuit, which has been pending since November 14, 2014.
The political party received unauthorized funding from other nations, including the US, UAE, UK, and Australia, according to the ECP’s written order.
Imran’s request for leave had been denied during the prior sessions, and the banking court judge had ordered him to appear in court.
But, the PTI leader’s legal team was able to obtain respite from the IHC until February 22 in order to prevent the banking court from temporarily revoking Imran’s bail.
