Toshakhana Case: Islamabad court rejects Imran’s plea, orders arrest till March 18

A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Thursday dismissed PTI chairman Imran Khan’s plea seeking suspension of the non-bailable arrest warrant issued for the former prime minister in the Toshakhana case. Announcing the reserved judgement, Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal said the warrant cannot be suspended on the ground of an undertaking. He passed the orders while hearing a reference to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seeking criminal proceedings against former Prime Minister Imran Khan for hiding details of the Toshakhana gifts.

The sessions court was all set to charge Imran in the case on February 28, but his lawyer requested the judge to exempt him from hearing as he has to appear in several other courts. His indictment had previously been postponed several times. The judge later issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Imran and directed the police to produce him before the court by March 7. The PTI chief managed to evade arrest and later approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to quash the warrant.

Giving some relief to Imran, the Lahore High Court asked him to appear in the sessions court by March 13, but the former prime minister once again stayed away from the hearing. As a result, ADSJ Iqbal on Monday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Imran. Reissued and directed the police to produce him before the court by March 18. However, when police arrived at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on Tuesday to arrest Imran, they met resistance, leading to two days of pitched battles between PTI supporters and law enforcement agencies. On the same day, PTI also challenged the latest arrest warrant issued for Imran in the IHC. The petition was dismissed and the PTI chief was directed to submit an affidavit in the lower court, stating that he would attend the hearing on March 18.