National

Civil Judge Islamabad Malik Aman issues non-bailable warrant for Imran Khan in the female judge-threatening case

ISLAMABAD, Mar 29 (SABAH): Civil Judge Islamabad Malik Aman on Wednesday issued non-bailable arrest warrant for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan for threatening female additional district and session judge Islamabad Zeba Chaudhry.

The court also directed the PTI chief to appear before it on April 18.

The judge announced his decision after a short break during proceedings. The judge dismissed Imran Khan’s plea for exemption from personal appearance and ordered him to appear before the court on April 18.

When proceedings resumed after a break, Prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbasi opposed Imran Khan’s plea and pleaded with the court to change bailable warrant to non-bailable.

Raja Rizwan Abbasi said Imran Khan had appeared before Islamabad High Court two days ago. During the previous date of hearing, the judge said that immunity had been granted many times.

He said Imran Khan has not yet submitted his medical report or given any concrete reasons for exemption from appearance. Moreover, his application was signed by his lawyer and not by himself, he added.

The prosecutor requested the court to dismiss Imran Khan’s application and issue a non-bailable arrest warrant for him. On it, the court reserved its verdict.

Earlier, the lawyers of former prime minister Imran Khan requested the court to restore the bailable warrant.

He argued that Imran has security concerns, his life is in danger. He has survived a bid on his life. The Islamabad High Court has also taken notice of withdrawal of his security.

The case against the former prime minister was registered on August 20 last year with Margalla police station in the federal capital over his remarks at a rally in F9 Park where he warned Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry and police high-ups of dire consequences for what he called their “biased” attitude towards his party.

He alleged that Judge Zeba knew that incarcerated party leader Dr. Shahbaz Gill was tortured, but she did not release him on bail.

While the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had withdrawn its show cause notice to Imran Khan and said it was satisfied with the apology and the PTI chairman’s conduct, the matter is still pending at a lower court in the federal capital.