ISLAMABAD, Mar 7 (EW): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday gave Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan another opportunity to choose a date to appear before the courts in the Toshakhana (gift depository) reference against him.
The former premier had moved the high court against the non-bailable arrest warrant ordered by Additional Sessions judge Zafar Iqbal in the case.
Lawyer Ali Bukhari filed the petition requesting a cancellation of the warrant. The plea maintained that it was “illegal” to issue a non-bailable warrant.
During the hearing, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq questioned if Imran would appear before the Islamabad district and sessions court that was hearing the Toshakhana case.
When told by Imran’s counsel that he was “facing threats” the CJ maintained that the court’s judges received threats “every day” and asked if he should shut down the IHC because of it.
Justice Farooq asked the lawyer to provide a date on which Imran could appear before the court and told the lawyer to not make a mockery of the system.
The IHC CJ maintained that he would not suspend the non-bailable arrest warrant issued by the district court, but would issue a notice for tomorrow.
Imran’s lawyer stated that he would consult with the PTI chief and get “instructions” on what to do next “within half an hour”. The counsel announced that he would speak to Imran over video-link due to “security concerns”.
The court adjourned the hearing for half an hour.
‘Security threats’
During a telephonic conversation with his lawyers, the former premier instructed his counsel to highlight the security threats before the court again.
“Tell the court that I have been attacked in Wazirabad before,” Imran Khan instructed.
He added that he would have “no problem” appearing anywhere if the court made proper security arrangements.
Imran again evades court appearance in Toshakhana case
Earlier in the day, Imran Khan refrained from appearing before an Islamabad district and sessions court in the Toshakhana case against him due to his injuries.
The former premier’s counsel Sher Afzal Marwat appeared before the court and stated that Imran was unwell and “disabled” after his leg was shot at in the Wazirabad attack. He added that a global “spectacle” was created regarding Imran.
Marwat maintained that he would provide the power of attorney within “a day or two” and that Imran’s legal team was currently at the IHC.
The lawyer requested that the court give a date for next week for hearing the matter.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) counsel requested that the hearing be adjourned to March 9, to which Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha said that Imran had to appear before the IHC on that date.
“Imran Khan will definitely appear in Islamabad High Court on March 9,” Ranjha reiterated.
The ousted premier’s lawyer stated that he was told that it would be easier for the PTI chief to appear before the district court next week.
Judge Zafar Iqbal remarked that “in other words, Imran Khan will not appear before the session court even on March 9”.
Taking the rostrum, Ranjha stated that action should be taken according to law, questioning if a common citizen was also given such relief from appearing before a court.
He added that on behalf of Imran, a continuous exemption application was filed, and the exemption was also granted.
The court maintained that the case would be processed according to the law.
The ECP lawyer said that Thursday should be the deadline for submitting the PTI lawyer’s letter and conducting the next hearing.
Additional Sessions judge Zafar Iqbal adjourned the hearing till 2pm.
The court directed the lawyer Sher Afazl Marwat to submit his letter.
In his remarks, the judge asked the court to name a case that had gone on for so long before the additional sessions court. He added that Imran went to other courts but did not appear before the sessions court.
