Imran filed an application challenging the session court’s arrest warrant, and IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the matter. After the former prime minister’s biometrics were taken in Lahore, the hearing got underway.
Imran’s attorneys, Khawaja Haris and Barrister Gohar, appeared in court during the hearing, and senior leader Shibli Faraz was also present. Haris informed the court that, citing the Lahore incident, the trial court had rejected the former premier’s undertaking. When the court enquired about the existence of the undertaker, the PTI attorney said that Imran’s undertaking was still in effect.
The PTI chief’s attorney also emphasised that there is a possibility of an assassination attempt and that the government is aware of this possibility. The security of the PTI leader during his appearance would be taken into consideration by the session court, according to Justice Farooq, who also added that the undertaking is a statement made before the court and any violation would be regarded as contempt of court.
The IHC ordered the former prime minister to show up the following day during court hours, and if he does not, contempt of court proceedings will be started. The IHC Registrar’s Office objected to Imran’s plea asking for the suspension of his non-bailable arrest warrant in the Toshakhana criminal proceeding case earlier in the day.
The former premier’s legal team arrived at the IHC, where his attorney Khawaja Haris filed a request to overturn a ruling by the Islamabad District and Sessions Court that rejected the party leader’s request to have the arrest warrant suspended.
The petition asked the court to accept the pledge made by the former prime minister and to stop the police from carrying out the arrest warrant.
The Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal noted earlier that the warrants could not be suspended based on an undertaking. This order was announced during the hearing of a reference filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seeking criminal proceedings against deposed Imran for concealing the details of the Toshakhana gifts he and his wife obtained.
Imran was offered by the judge during the case’s earlier proceedings on Thursday that if he turned himself in to the court, he would stop the Islamabad police from trying to arrest him at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore.
Imran Khan, who is involved in numerous legal disputes, is under increasing political pressure as a result of the IHC decision. His detractors claim that he uses the Toshakhana for his own benefit and doesn’t pay taxes on the expensive gifts he received while prime minister. Imran has consistently denied all wrongdoing and said the accusations are made for political reasons.
