Toshakhana case: Imran’s plea seeking arrest warrant’s suspension rejected

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s plea seeking suspension of his non-bailable arrest warrant in the Toshakhana case was rejected on Monday.

Additional Session Judge Zafar Iqbal had reserved the verdict after a brief hearing earlier in the day.

Imran Khan’s lawyers Ali Bukhari, Qaiser Imam and Gohar Ali Khan appeared before the court on Monday.

According to local media reports, Ali Bukhari said that the PTI chairman always follows court orders. Qaiser Imam argued that if Imran Khan is willing to appear before the court the police cannot arrest him.

At this, the judge remarked that the PTI chief could have approached the Islamabad High Court to have his warrant suspended. Qaiser Imam said they wanted the sessions court to suspend the warrant.

Bukhari informed the court that the PTI chief was at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore. “Imran Khan wants to know a way he can appear in court,” Bukhari asked the judge.

Qaiser Imam argued that since a private complaint — under the Election Act, 2017 — was registered against Imran Khan and arrest warrants are not issued on private complaints, the court should suspend the warrant.

Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal issued non-bailable warrant for Imran Khan on February 28 for continuously failing to appear for hearings in the Toshakhana case.