Pakistan court suspends Imran Khan’s arrest warrants

Pakistan's Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended today non-bailable arrest warrants issued for PTI chairman Imran Khan till tomorrow, providing him with a chance to appear before the trial court, which is hearing the Toshakhana reference against the former premier of the country.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, while passing the orders, also instructed the sessions court and capital police to provide adequate security to Imran.

Embroiled in legal complexities, Imran has been resisting arrest in the Toshakhana case and is holed up inside his Zaman Park residence surrounded by hundreds of supporters, who have fought "pitched battles" with the police and Rangers over the past few days.

The Islamabad police, backed up by their Punjab Police compatriots and the Rangers, arrived at the ex-premier's house on Tuesday to execute non-bailable arrest warrants issued by an Islamabad sessions court for him in the Toshakhana reference — in which he has skipped several hearings.

However, the law enforcement agencies retreated on Wednesday evening, saying that the operation had been paused during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL). Separately, the Lahore High Court (LHC) had also intervened and postponed the operation.

On Thursday, an Islamabad sessions court — where PTI had gone for the suspension of Imran's arrest warrants — upheld the warrants that it issued, observing that the PTI chief had "challenged the dignity and writ of the state".

It also maintained its order to arrest the ex-premier and present him in court by March 18.

Today, the former prime minister filed yet another petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the verdict of the trial court.

In the plea, Imran prayed that the trial court's order be set aside and his arrest warrants be suspended "till the final disposal of the petition" so that the PTI chief could appear in court on March 18.

Imran to go to LHC to assure in-person appearance in Islamabad sessions court

Separately, Imran has planned to go to the LHC today and provide assurance that he was ready to appear before the Islamabad sessions court — which has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the former premier — on March 18.

"Imran Khan will come to LHC himself and assure the judge that he is ready to go to the Islamabad court," PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry told media persons today, adding that "an undertaking has also been given in this regard".

Speaking to media persons outside the LHC, Chaudhry demanded that the PTI chief should be given a "safe passage" to appear in the Islamabad sessions court.

He clarified that the arrest warrant issued for the ex-premier was merely to ensure his presence in court. "Imran Khan's arrest is not the motive of the warrant. Only ensuring his presence is."

Separately, PTI's Musarrat Cheema said that the PTI chief will leave for the high court at 3pm.

Copyright: Dawn/ Asia News Network