ISLAMABAD: Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal on Thursday said he would halt attempts by the Islamabad police to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan in the Toshakhana (gift depository) case if the PTI chairman surrendered before the court.
The remarks came during the hearing of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) reference that sought criminal proceedings against the former premier for hiding details of Toshakhana gifts.
The judge had re-issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran earlier this week and directed the capital city police to bring him to court by March 18.
However, skirmishes broke out between the Islamabad police and PTI supporters when the police reached Imran’s residence in Zaman Park. The two sides battled for two days, with other law enforcement agencies joining the Islamabad police, and calm only returned after judicial intervention.
Earlier today, an Islamabad district and sessions court resumed hearing the case. Imran’s lawyers Khawaja Haris Ahmed and Faisal Chaudhry were present in court.
At the outset of the hearing, the judge questioned why the ex-prime minister was “resisting” to which Haris asked if it was necessary to “arrest Imran and then bring him before the court”.
The judge maintained that he wanted Imran to appear before the court, and added that the PTI chief has to assist the police according to the law, not resist them. He remarked that if the warrants were bailable, there would have been no problems.
However, Haris informed the court that the warrants were non-bailable and read the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) order before the court which had instructed Imran to sign an undertaking and appear before the court on March 18.
The lawyer continued that if the judge was “satisfied”, he could accept the undertaking and the PTI chief would appear before the court on March 18.
He further urged the judge to suspend the warrant instead of withdrawing it to give Imran an opportunity to appear before the court. If you are satisfied, then take the undertaking. Imran Khan will appear before Hud on 18, said Haris.
