ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday ordered Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to submit an affidavit to the trial court regarding his appearance in the Toshakhana case on the set date.
The IHC disposed of the PTI chief’s application to cancel his arrest warrant that was issued over his non-appearance in the case.
The court ordered Imran Khan to approach the sessions court for suspension of arrest warrants and ordered the session court to issue a verdict according to the Constitution after the submission of the undertaking. If the undertaking convinced the trial court, it would suspend the warrants, the court remarked.
Trial court can suspend Imran Khan’s arrest warrants: IHC
The high court directed Imran Khan to submit the affidavit to the district and sessions court. It further said if the trial court is satisfied, it could suspend the arrest warrant. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq took up a petition filed by the PTI legal team.
However, the warrant shall remain in force until the affidavit is submitted.
Earlier in the day, PTI counsel Khawaja Harris took to the rostrum after the chief justice wrapped up the hearing of another case and pleaded him for an early hearing of his petition. Chief Justice IHC remarked that the PTI petition was yet to be fixed for hearing. He remarked that the court had provided relief to Imran Khan when it suspended the arrest warrants till March 13 and ordered him to appear before the trial court.
‘The ongoing situation is a result of not implementing the court orders,” the chief justice remarked.
Later, chief justice AAmer Farooq removed the objections raised by the registrar’s office on the petition regarding the signature and biometric of the PTI chief. The chief justice directed the PTI lawyers to address the ticket objection in half an hour.
The petition was filed in IHC after a heavy contingent of police and paramilitary troops reached Zaman Park in Lahore to arrest Imran Khan.
LHC stops police operation at Zaman Park till tomorrow
After a day-long scuffle continued between PTI supporters and law enforcement agencies outside the residence of former prime minister Imran, LHC (Lahore High Court) on Wednesday stopped police operation at Zaman Park till Thursday 10 am (March 16).
Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh of the apex court, while passing orders over a petition filed by PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry observed to stop the “atrocities” outside Zaman Park.
Operation at Zaman Park
Earlier on wednesday morning, Islamabad Police alongwith Punjab Police and Rangers made efforts to arrest the ex-prime minister in connection with the Toshkhana case. Imran Khan has skipped indictment several times, that led him to face non-bailable arrest warrants from the courts.
However, the security forces sufferred strong resistance from PTI workers and supporters, who pelted stones at them. The police responded with heavy shelling.
Earlier from Tuesday till Monday morning Zaman Park and its premises had become a war zone, where the security forces were scuflling with protestotrs for more than 20 hours.
Hearing in LHC
Later during the hearing, Punjab Advocate General Shaun Gill said that the matter was pending before IHC (Islamabad High Court) and Fawad Chaudry’s plea could not be heard in Lahore High Court.
Justice Sheikh inquired about the official from Islamabad police who was heading the operation to arrest Imran Khan in Lahore and summoned him to the court. Lawyer from government responded said that the Islamabad advocate general represented the capital’s police.
However the court remarked and warned that it would issue arrest warrants for the Islamabad police official if he didn’t appear in court and also summoned the Punjab police chief and chief secretary of the province.
Later the officials from Punjab arrived and appeared in the court, where the government’s lawyer said that the official from Islamabad police couldn’t appear in said court, adding that the IHC had reserved its verdict on a PTI request seeking cancellation of arrest warrants of Imran Khan.
