The Islamabad High Court on Friday suspended non-bailable arrest warrants issued for the former Prime Minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan till March 18 in the Toshakhana reference, providing him with a chance to appear before the trial court.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, while passing the orders, also instructed the sessions court and capital police to provide adequate security to the former premier.
It should be noted that the ex-premier was the subject of non-bailable arrest warrants issued by an Islamabad sessions court for him in the Toshakhana reference, in which he has skipped several hearings. The Islamabad police, accompanied by their Punjab Police and the Rangers, arrived at his residence on Tuesday to execute the warrants.
On Wednesday night, the law enforcement authorities withdrew, claiming that the operation had been suspended due to the current Pakistan Super League (PSL). Separately, the LHC had also stepped in and delayed the procedure.
On Thursday, an Islamabad sessions court upheld the arrest warrants it had issued, noting that the PTI leader had “challenged the dignity and writ of the state” in his request to have Imran’s warrants suspended.
It also maintained its order to arrest the ex-premier and present him in court by March 18.
On Friday, the former prime minister filed yet another petition in the Islamabad High Court (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 March 18.
