Toshakhana case: Non-bailable arrest warrant for Imran Khan issued

ISLAMABAD: Non-bailable arrest warrant for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan was issued by the district and sessions court in the Toshakhana case on Tuesday.

Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal announced the decision as Imran Khan failed to appear before the court despite repeated orders.

Imran Khan’s lawyer Ali Bukhari and Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) lawyer Saad Hasan were present in judge Zafar Iqbal’s court.

Imran Khan’s lawyer informed the court that since Imran was to appear before two courts in the judicial complex after reaching here from Lahore, he would not be able to appear before judge Zafar Iqbal’s court. He requested the court to adjourn the hearing for five days.

“Why is it that Imran can appear in 11 courts but not at the katchehri?” inquired the judge. The court will frame charges against him so he should come here and then leave, the judge remarked earlier.

Earlier, the PTI chairman was granted interim bail in the prohibited funding and terrorism cases.

The former prime minister appeared before an anti-terrorism court and banking court at the Judicial Complex on Tuesday. A large number of his supporters also entered the complex by knocking down the gate and removing all barriers.

Imran Khan was granted bail till March 9 by ATC judge Raja Jawad against submission of Rs100,000 surety bonds while judge Rakhshanda Shaheen gave the PTI chief bail in the prohibited funding case.

The PTI chairman was also to appear for a hearing in the Toshakhana and an attempt to murder cases in the same court.

Terrorism cases were registered against Imran Khan and other PTI leaders after party workers vandalised state property while protesting against his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference.

Federal Investigation Agency booked the PTI chief last year in October for allegedly receiving prohibited funding.

The ECP, in a unanimous verdict on August 2022, had announced that the PTI received prohibited funding — the case was earlier referred to as the foreign funding case.

The attempt to murder case against Imran Khan was filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, a day after Ranjha was allegedly attacked outside the ECP office.

Local media reports said Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal heard the case on Tuesday with Imran Khan’s lawyer Sardar Masroof attending the hearing.

Replying to the judge’s inquiry about Imran Khan’s appearance in the court, Sardar Masroof said the PTI chief was on his way to Islamabad from Lahore by road and would reach within the court’s time.

“Imran Khan will go to the banking court first and then will come here,” he said, adding that he is unable to contact the PTI chief and hence, cannot give an exact time of his arrival.

At this, the plaintiff’s lawyer asked for an exact time, saying that “we cannot wait for you”.