Court rejects Imran’s plea on suspending arrest warrant  in ToshaKhana case

ISLAMABAD: On Monday, a district and sessions court in Islamabad denied Imran Khan’s request to have the non-bailable arrest warrant issued for him in the Toshakhana case suspended.

After a brief case hearing, Additional Session judge Zafar Iqbal delivered the verdict he had reserved earlier in the day. Ali Bukhari, Qaiser Imam, and Gohar Ali Khan, Khan’s attorneys, appeared before the court during today’s hearing. Bukhari argued that his client has consistently complied with court orders. Imam countered that the police cannot detain Imran Khan if he is willing to appear.

The judge then remarked that the PTI leader could have requested the suspension of the warrant by contacting the Islamabad High Court. Imam, however, informed the magistrate that they wanted the warrant to be suspended by the sessions court. The PTI leader was at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, according to Bukhari. Bukhari said, “Imran Khan wants to know how he can show up in court. Imam added that a private complaint was filed under the 2017 Election Act against the PTI leader. He urged the court to suspend the warrant on the grounds that arrest warrants are typically not issued in response to a private complaint. The PTI chief’s attorney informed them that their client will not show up in court, the judge remarked.

The judge then reserved the verdict on the petition.

On February 28, Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal issued the former prime minister’s non-bailable arrest warrant for continuously failing to appear before the court in the Toshakhana case.

As per court orders Islamabad Police team on Sunday, led by a superintendent of police, had visited Zaman Park to implement the arrest warrant. But failed to do so.

The PTI chief has also approached the Lahore High Court today for post-arrest bail in the case.