The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday suspended non-bailable arrest warrants issued for PTI Chairman Imran Khan till 18 March, providing him with a chance to appear before the trial court hearing the Toshakhana reference against the former premier, Dawn reported.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq also instructed the Islamabad district and session courts 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, Dawn reported.
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).
On Thursday, the 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 18 March.
Earlier on Friday, the former prime minister filed yet another petition in the 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 18 March, Dawn reported.
During the hearing, Imran’s lawyer, Khawaja Haris, submitted an undertaking by his client, assuring that the PTI chief would appear in court on 18 March.
At the outset of the hearing, the court inquired about the basis on which the trial court rejected the undertaking provided by Imran, to which Haris said the trial court stated that non-bailable warrants could not be cancelled.
The lawyer also stated that Imran had security concerns. “I have been informed by the administration that security arrangements were being made. The trial court judge has also issued orders in this regard, and I will ensure this as well,” Justice Farooq said.