Court dismisses ex-PM Imran’s warrant cancellation plea in Toshakhana case

ISLAMABAD, March 6 (SABAH): A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday dismissed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s request to cancel non-bailable warrant issued for him in the Toshakhana case, upholding the former prime minister’s arrest warrant.

On behalf of the deposed prime minister, lawyer Qaiser Imam, barrister Gohar and Ali Bukhari had filed a petition in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal.

During the hearing, Imam had stated that the issuance of a warrant in a private complainant has been prevented to some extent, therefore, the court should cancel the arrest warrant for Imran.

In his remarks, Justice Iqbal maintained that on the morning of February 28, Imran’s lawyers had said that he would not come to the court.

The former ruling party has decided to approach the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to cancel the arrest warrants issued for Imran. PTI lawyers will file a petition in the high court after obtaining the detailed decision of the Sessions Court.

On February 28, the PTI chairman, accompanied by his party supporters, had reached Islamabad’s judicial complex to appear before the courts to face the prohibited funding and terrorism charges against him.

It is pertinent to note the Sessions Court, where the PTI chief had to appear in the Toshakhana reference and an attempted murder case, is located in F-8 Kachehri, which is around a half-an-hour drive away from the judicial complex.

During the proceedings of the Toshakhana reference, Imran’s lawyer had requested the judge to postpone the hearing by another five days.

The lawyer had argued that he was unable to present the deposed premier before the court. However, he had added that if his client managed to leave the judicial complex in time, he would appear before the court. Judge Iqbal, while issuing the non-bailable warrants, had adjourned the hearing till March 7 (tomorrow).

In the latest development on the other day, the PTI chief evaded arrest as his supporters prevented the Islamabad police from entering his Zaman Park residence in Lahore amid high drama.

However, the police were able to serve the notice on Imran, handing it to his chief of staff Shibli Faraz, for compliance of the arrest warrants issued by the sessions court of the federal capital in the Toshakhana case.