Quetta court issues non-bailable arrest warrant for Imran Khan
QUETTA: A local court in Quetta on Thursday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in a case pertaining to inciting public against state institutions.
The judicial magistrate issued the arrest warrant in the case registered against the former premier under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA), and directed authorities to present the former prime minister in court.
A first information report (FIR) was registered at a police station in Quetta against Khan for the comments he made against state institutions and their officers during a speech on Sunday. The case was lodged on the complaint of a citizen – named Abdul Khalil Karak.
The PTI chairman was booked under Pakistan Penal Code – Section 505 [Statements conducing to public mischief], Section 124-A [Sedition] and Section 153-A [Promoting enmity between different groups].
Earlier on Thursday, the Lahore High Court (LHC) suspended the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) decision to ban all satellite TV channels from broadcasting former prime minister Imran Khan’s speeches and press talks.
Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza announced the judgment. He also sent the matter to the full bench for hearing and adjourned the proceedings till March 13.