Toshakhana case: Court suspends Imran Khan’s non-bailable arrest warrants
A district and sessions court on Saturday suspended the non-bailable arrest warrants issued against former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in Toshakhana case and allowed him to leave after marking his attendance due to chaos outside the Judicial Complex.
The judge ordered Imran to appear in person at the subsequent hearing, which was postponed until March 30 (Thursday) as a result of the confusion and volatility that occurred today.
Earlier, Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Zafar Iqbal allowed the PTI Chief to mark his attendance outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex and return.
“The situation as it is, the hearing and appearance cannot proceed that is why all those who have gathered here should disperse after marking attendance. There is no need for shelling or pelting [of stones], the hearing cannot be held today,” the judge said.
PTI Imran Khan may not be indicted today, and the hearing was adjourned till the order sheet is returned after marking his attendance.
Amid chaos, people inside the courtroom were facing difficulties due to the effects of the teargas and the windows were pelted by stones as well.
As Imran and his motorcade earlier reached outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex, he alleged that he was not being allowed to enter the court’s premises.
The former prime minister’s convoy also faced several hurdles on its way from Lahore to Islamabad — from vehicles overturning to police and party workers clashing on several spots.
In an audio message released to the media, Imran said: “I am waiting outside the [judicial complex’s] door for 15 minutes and am fully trying to enter but they’ve done teargas [shelling] and erected checkpoints and it seems they don’t want that I reach here.”
It is also obvious now that the entire siege of Lahore was not about ensuring I appear before the court in a case but was intended to take me away to prison so that I am unable to lead our election campaign.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 18, 2023
Despite that, he reiterated that he was outside the complex and was attempting to enter it.
Earlier, a large contingent of the Punjab Police raided the Zaman Park residence in Lahore, with power shovels in tow, which they used to dismantle the various structures, bunkers and barricades erected outside the site.
Meanwhile Punjab police have led an assault on my house in Zaman Park where Bushra Begum is alone. Under what law are they doing this? This is part of London Plan where commitments were made to bring absconder Nawaz Sharif to power as quid pro quo for agreeing to one appointment.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 18, 2023
“Meanwhile, Punjab police have led an assault on my house in Zaman Park where Bushra Begum is alone,” Imran said in a tweet soon after the operation began.
