ISLAMABAD: In a major development, a court in the federal capital on Tuesday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case.
Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal issued the arrest warrant as Khan did not appear in court despite repeated orders.
Earlier, the PTI chairman had obtained interim bail in two different cases – the prohibited funding and terrorism cases – when he arrived at the judicial complex in Islamabad to attend the hearing of the cases.
The former prime minister appeared separately in the Anti-Terrorism Court and the Banking Court.
ATC judge Raja Jawad heard the terrorism case and granted bail till March 9 on submission of a surety bond of Rs 1 lakh.
Meanwhile, Judge Rukhsinda Shaheen upheld Khan’s bail in the prohibited funding case.
The Islamabad police registered terrorism cases against PTI leaders including Khan after party workers took to the streets and vandalized government property following his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference.
Cases registered under 7ATA along with other provisions of the PPC – were registered at various police stations in the federal capital against hundreds of PTI workers and leaders for blocking roads and police personnel at the behest of Khan, Asad Umar. was named for assaulting Ali Nawaz Awan and others.
Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on October 2022 registered a case against the PTI chief for receiving prohibited funding.
The ECP had declared in a unanimous decision on August 2022 that the PTI had received prohibited funding. The case was earlier referred to as a “foreign funding” case, but later the Election Commission accepted PTI’s request to call it a “prohibited funding” case.
Khan was scheduled to appear in three courts today to attend the hearing of several cases. These included the prohibited funding case in the banking court, the anti-terrorism case, the Toshakhana case and the attempted murder case in the same court.
Earlier, as soon as Khan reached the judicial complex in the federal capital, a large number of PTI workers entered the building by knocking its gate.
Security was disrupted in Sector G-11 of the judicial complex as PTI workers removed all barricades. Meanwhile, strict security arrangements were made at the courthouse as well.
Toshakhana hearing
The District and Sessions Court heard the Toshakhana case against the PTI Chairman today.
Imran Khan’s lawyer Ali Bukhari and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lawyer Saad Hassan were present in the court.
The case was heard by Judge Zafar Iqbal.
Imran Khan’s lawyer told the court that the former prime minister had left Lahore some time ago. He said that Imran Khan has to appear in two courts in the judicial complex.
He said that Khan will not be able to appear in this court today.
Bukhari requested the court to adjourn the hearing for five days.
Why is it that Imran can appear in 11 courts but not in the courtroom? asked the judge.
He remarked that the court will decide the charges against them so they come here and then leave.
He further said that Khawaja Haris is Imran Khan’s lawyer in this case and he is not available to appear in this court today.
In the Toshakhana case, the judge summoned Khan once again today.
Both of Khan’s lawyers – Ali Bukhari and Sardar Masroof – were reportedly giving conflicting accounts of Khan’s arrival.
Attempt to murder case
A case of attempted murder against Khan was filed by a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader. Muslim League-N leader Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha had registered a case against the former prime minister in the Secretariat police station of the federal capital last year.
The case was registered a day after an alleged attack outside the ECP office in Ranjha, where PTI workers and supporters were protesting against the election body’s decision in the Toshakhana case. His party chief was disqualified.
On the previous hearing, the District and Sessions Court on Monday rejected the former prime minister’s plea to transfer the trial of the murder case to the judicial complex.
Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal heard the case today. Imran Khan’s lawyer Sardar Masroof conducted the hearing.
During the hearing, the judge asked when the PTI chief will come.
The lawyer replied that Khan Sahib was going by road from Lahore to Islamabad and would come on the court time.
He said that Imran Khan would first go to the banking court and then come here, adding that he was unable to contact the PTI chief and therefore could not tell the exact time of his arrival.
On this, the plaintiff’s lawyer asked for the exact time and said that we cannot wait for you.
