Non-bailable arrest warrants again issued against Imran Khan; this time in judge threat case 

KARACHI – On Monday, the district and sessions judge in Islamabad denied PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s request for a waiver of his appearance requirement and issued non-bailable arrest warrants for him in connection with the judge threat case.

When the PTI leader threatened a female judge, the court said he would issue non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran Khan if he failed to show up in court by the appointed time. Naeem Panjutha, Imran Khan’s attorney, appeared before Civil Judge Rana Mujahid Rahim and requested that the PTI leader be excused from appearing in court.

According to the application, the PTI chief has asked for an exemption from appearing in court due to security concerns. However, the judge stated that he would issue non-bailable arrest warrants for Mr. Khan if the PTI leader failed to show up for the court proceedings within the allotted time. The hearing was postponed until 12:30 p.m. by the judge. Mr. Khan had been ordered by the court to present copies of the case on Monday. The Margalla police station opened a case against him. On August 20, the PTI chairman denounced the police and the judiciary for allegedly torturing Shahbaz Gill while he was being held in custody and declared that his party would file lawsuits against the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan, the DIG, and AD&SJ Zeba Chaudhry.

Mr. Khan was initially charged under several sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). In addition, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) also filed a complaint against him for contempt of court. After Mr. Khan submitted an apology in the contempt case, the IHC later dropped the terrorism charges against him and also granted him a pardon.