ISLAMABAD: The Additional District and Sessions Court in Islamabad has cancelled the arrest warrants of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, issued in Toshakhana case, and adjourned the hearing till March 30, ARY News reported on Saturday.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal adjourned the hearing till March 30 and sought arguments in the next hearing about the admissibility of the case.
The court also ordered Imran Khan to ensure his presence in the next hearing.
During the hearing, Judge Zafar Iqbal permitted Imran Khan to mark his attendance from the car outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex in the Toshakhana case.
As PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his motorcade reached outside the Judicial Complex, the Islamabad police alleged party workers had pelted stones at them.
Later, the Additional Sessions Judge decided to mark Imran Khan’s attendance at the gate of the judicial complex, and allow him to return.
“The hearing and appearance cannot proceed due to current situation,” the judge said, ordering all to disperse after marking attendance. “There is no need for shelling or pelting of stones, the hearing cannot be held today,” he added.
‘Order sheet missing’
As the hearing resumed again, Judge Zafar Iqbal inquired about the order sheet, sent to mark attendance of Imran Kham. In response, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sameen Malik said that PTI leader Shibli Faraz had the documents.
The SP claimed that he was unaware of whether the PTI chief signed the document or not. However, Barrister Gohar said: “I took the signatures from Imran Khan,” adding that on the way back, the police started shelling and SP Malik took the file from him.
The Barrister noted that a video of the entire incident is available. Meanwhile, Judge Iqbal told SP Malik to go find court documents terming them ‘very important’.
Advocate Khawaja Harris claimed that the SP was lying. At this, the judge said he does not want a war and directed the parties to take things forward smoothly.
Consequently, the court directed SP Malik and Barrister Gohar to submit their written statements to the court. The judge then adjourned the hearing till March 30 and summoned Imran in his personal capacity again.
‘All legal process completed’
Talking to ARY News exclusively, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi told said that “all legal process for the signature has been completed”.
The former foreign minister also claimed that Imran Khan was now departing from the Judicial Complex.
He also condemned the operation at Zaman Park and actions of Islamabad police against the PTI workers, saying that petitions have been filed in Islamabad and Lahore High Courts.
Khan to appear before court
The PTI chief was scheduled to appear before the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Zafar Iqbal.
عمران خان صاحب کا قافلہ جوڈیشل کمپلیکس کے عین سامنے موجود ہے۔
سیاسی کارکنان سے گذارش ہے کہ راستہ صاف کریں تاکہ عمران خان عدالت پہنچ سکیں#Islamabad #Police
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) March 18, 2023
عمران خان کی گاڑی جوڈیشل کمپلیکس میں موجود! پولیس کی جانب سے لوگوں کو منتشر کرنے کیلئے شیلنگ! آنسو گیس کی شیلنگ سے جوڈیشل کمپلیکس کے باہر دھوئیں کے بادل#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/oPaXrdeyu1
— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 18, 2023
A large number of PTI leaders, including Faisal Javed, Murad Saeed, Asad Umar and workers are accompanying the convoy of the former premier.
پنڈی بھٹیاں پہنچنے پر بھی عمران خان کا شاندار استقبال۔
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 18, 2023
Keeping in view the security reaons, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Noorul Amin Mengal shifted the hearing from F-8 Court Complex to the Judicial Complex in G-11.
‘London Plan’
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday claimed that he was aware that the government would arrest him as he headed to the Islamabad court to attend the Toshakhana case hearing.
Taking to Twitter, the PTI chief, who is en route to Islamabad said: “It is now clear that, despite my having gotten bail in all my cases, the PDM govt intends to arrest me. Despite knowing their malafide intentions, I am proceeding to Islamabad & the court because I believe in rule of law. But ill intent of this cabal of crooks shd be clear to all.”
“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,” he added.
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
Security measures
Stringent security measures have been put in place outside the judicial complex in Islamabad’s G-11. A large contingent of police has been deployed to the area to take charge of security.
In a statement, the Islamabad police’s spokesperson said that Section 144 (ban on public gatherings and display of weapons) has been imposed in the federal capital.
In a tweet, the capital police said a traffic plan had been issued, and citizens were advised to avoid unnecessary movement towards the areas of G-11 and G-10.
“Chief commissioner Islamabad has directed citizens to cooperate with the authorities and avoid unnecessary movement to ensure the smooth implementation of the traffic plan.”
اسلام آباد میں دفعہ 144 نافذ العمل ہے۔
پرائیویٹ کمپنیوں،سکیورٹی گارڈز یا کسی شخص کے اسلحہ لے کر چلنے پر پابندی ہے۔
گاڑی چلاتے وقت اپنی گاڑی کاملکیتی ثبوت ساتھ رکھیں۔
ٹریفک پلان جاری کردیاگیا ہے۔
شہری جی الیون ون اور جی ٹین ون کی طرف غیر ضروری نقل وحرکت سے گریز کریں۔⬇️
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) March 17, 2023
On Friday, Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s non-bailable arrest warrants in the Toshakhana case till March 18.
READ: IMRAN KHAN SAYS ARREST BID AIMED TO JAIL HIM BEFORE ELECTIONS
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq suspended former premier Imran Khan’s arrest warrants and barred police from arresting him till March 18.
IHC CJ, while passing the orders, also instructed the sessions court and Islamabad police to provide adequate security to Imran Khan.
Toshakhana case
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference under Article 63(1)(p).
In the written judgment, the ECP said: “As per the statement of Imran Khan he had purchased the gifts from Toshakhana paying 21.564 million rupees while the Cabinet Division said that the gifts had a value of 107.943 million.”
“The amount in his bank account was around half of the value of the state gifts. Imran Khan was bound to declare the cash and bank details in his returns but he didn’t declare it,” ECP decision read.
“Imran Khan being declared disqualified and unseated from his National Assembly seat,” the ECP said, adding: “He has been disqualified under Article 63, 1(P), over submitting a false statement and declaration”.
Read More: Imran Khan disqualified in Toshakhana reference by ECP
The judgement added that the former premier was found to be indulged in corrupt practices under sections 167 and 173 of the constitution. “A criminal proceeding will be initiated against him over filing a false statement.”
“His disqualification under Article 63, 1(P) has been for his current parliament membership”, the ECP said in its 36-page detailed judgment of the reference.
Subsequently, the ECP had approached the Islamabad sessions court seeking proceedings against Imran under criminal law.
Almas Khan, Farrukh Ijaz, Zulqurnain Haider, Babar Khan also contributed to this report
Ulfat Mughal serves as senior political reporter for ARY News Lahore
