Politics

Toshakhana case: IHC suspends Imran Khan’s arrest warrants

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

IHC directs Khan to appear before sessions court on March 13.
Sessions court also orders PTI chief to appear on same date.
Ex-prime minister skipped lower court’s hearing despite today.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday suspended the non-bailable arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan — issued by a local court in the capital in the Toshakhana case.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq accepted the PTI chief’s plea against Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal’s decision and directed Khan to ensure that he appears before the lower court on March 13.

Following the high court’s decision, the sessions court, which was also hearing the Toshakhana case, ordered the former prime minister to appear before it, where he will be indicted.

On February 28, Additional Sessions Judge Iqbal issued the former prime minister’s non-bailable arrest warrants for continuously failing to appear before the court in the Toshakhana case.

Islamabad police then raided Khan’s residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park but returned empty-handed as the law enforcers were informed that the former prime minister “wasn’t present” there.

Khan had then approached the same court for suspending the orders, but Judge Iqbal rejected his plea — prompting the deposed prime minister to move the IHC.

IHC’s hearing

At the outset of the hearing presided by CJ Farooq, Khan’s lawyer Qaisar Imam started his arguments, saying that an attempt on the PTI chief’s life was highly likely during his appearance at the local court.

CJ Farooq remarked that the arrest warrant had been issued to ensure Khan’s presence, not for his arrest. “Imran Khan should have appeared before the court,” the justice said.

He asked Khan’s lawyers to suggest a way to summon the deposed premier to the court. Issuing arrest warrants is the only way in the law to ensure a suspect’s appearance in court, he added

Meanwhile, Khan’s lawyer requested the court to suspend the arrest warrant. At this, the CJ asked what would the suspension do.

“The court is summoning you to conduct a trial. I wouldn’t issue any order that is out of common practice. Imran Khan would have to appear in person for indictment,” he remarked.

CJ Farooq further stated that Khan should appear in the lower court as he has to appear in IHC on March 9.

Lawyer Imam maintained that Khan had serious security threats.

IHC CJ told the lawyers to consult with Khan about his appearance in court. At this, CJ Farooq referred to last week’s appearance of Khan at the Lahore High Court.

“There was a huge crowd. Who knows who has come with what intention,” the justice said, adding that bringing thousands of people would make things worse.

The CJ then asked the lawyer to consult with the PTI chief and adjourned the hearing for 30 minutes.

“Stay fair with the system, don’t ridicule the system,” he remarked while asking the lawyers if he should suspend the trial in the lower court by giving a two months date.

The lawyers appeared in court upon resumption of the hearing for the second time, after consulting with Khan as per IHC CJ Farooq’s directive.

“Imran Khan should be given four weeks to appear in court,” Khan’s lawyer requested the court.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad advocate general contended that Khan doesn’t want to face trial.

The court then reserved the verdict and announced it hours later.

Khan skips lower court hearing

Meanwhile, the deposed prime minister skipped the hearing in the Islamabad sessions court in the Toshakhana case despite a non-bailable arrest warrant against him.

At the outset of the hearing earlier in the day, Sardar Masroof Khan, a junior lawyer of Khan’s legal team, appeared before the lower court. Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha and the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) lawyer Saad Hasan also appeared in court.

Additional sessions Judge Iqbal inquired whether Khan wouldn’t appear in court again today. The lawyer said it was not known whether the PTI chief would appear or not and that a senior legal team of the PTI chair would appear before the court at 10am. The court then adjourned the hearing till 10am.

When the hearing resumed, ECP’s lawyer Hasan requested the court to adjourn the hearing till March 9 as Khan is due in the IHC.

Ranjha supported the lawyer’s request saying that the PTI chief would surely appear before the high court on March 9.

However, Khan’s lawyer maintained that he had been informed that it would be easier for the former premier to appear in the lower court next week.

At this, the judge remarked that in other words, it meant Khan wouldn’t appear in the sessions court on March 9.

The judge directed Khan’s lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat to submit an affidavit. At this, the lawyer assured the court of submitting the document by 11am.

“It seems like Imran Khan won’t appear in court today again,” the judge remarked.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing till 2pm at the request of Khan’s lawyer.

As the hearing reconvened in the local court, Khan’s lawyer informed the court about filing a plea challenging the arrest warrant issued against the former prime minister in IHC.

Khan’s lawyer Marwat maintained that there were certain reasons behind the PTI chief skipping hearings. “Imran Khan said several times that he had threats to his life,” the lawyer said.

He said that Khan had been attacked in the lower court in the past and it seems like another attack on him would be made.

He further stated that the PTI chief would appear in the judicial complex and high court. At this, the judge said that he is issuing orders for security arrangements at the court for a hearing on March 9.

Khan’s lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat submitted the security report in court.

Khan has to come to Islamabad on March 9 as he has hearings on bail in the IHC and the judicial complex, said the judge.

He said that he will issue directives on security to the inspector general (IG) and the Interior Ministry.

“The Toshakhana case will be dealt with as per the law,” remarked the judge. The lawyer said that the IHC would reserve and announce its verdict on the arrest warrant suspension after a while.

Lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said that the court should ask questions about the security of the relevant institutes. “The court should decide on what the security agencies say,” he added.

The concerns over security conditions in court are something serious, he said.

The court then adjourned the hearing till the IHC’s orders. Following the high court’s order, the lower court ordered Khan to appear before it on March 13 for indictment.

Latest News

Containers were used to seal the Red Zone before JI’s sit-in at D-Chowk.

Published

14 hours ago

Farwa

Authorities in Islamabad have blocked off the Red Zone by erecting containers in front of today’s (Friday) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demonstration and the Jamaat-i-Islami sit-in at D-Chowk in Islamabad.

Jamaat-i-Islami is scheduled to stage a sit-in at Islamabad’s D-Chowk, and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has declared a nationwide protest against the country’s soaring inflation and recent spike in electricity rates.

Containers have been used to block access to the Red Zone’s main crossroads, D Chowk, Nadra Chowk, and Sarina Chowk.

ISLAMABAD, PUNJAB SECTION 144

In the meantime, in response to PTI and JI plans for statewide rallies, the federal and Punjabi governments enforced Section 144 in Islamabad and Punjab. Section 144 will be in force from Friday, July 26 to Sunday, July 28, per the notification that was released in this regard.

Rallies, sit-ins, protests, and rallies are prohibited from July 26 to July 28, according to a letter from the Home Department. It said that terrorists may find public gatherings to be an easy target and stated that the decision had been made with the threat of terrorism in mind.

In contrast, JI Secretary General Ameerul Azeem claimed in a statement that police had raided the residences of JI officials across the nation.

In an attempt to break up the protest, he said, police had targeted JI leaders and activists. He also alleged that multiple instances of police raids, arrests, and harassment of women had occurred in various towns.

GOVT ADVISED

The government was forewarned by Jamaat Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman earlier on Thursday that it would face consequences if the party was barred from accessing Islamabad for their scheduled demonstration against inflation and an increase in electricity prices.

He stated in a statement that their belief is in peaceful political protest as a means of securing public rights. “We are not afraid of arrests, and the Jamaat-e-Islami cannot be stopped,” he added.

“The historic sit-in on Friday, July 26, will represent 250 million people of Pakistan, and we will sit peacefully at D-Chowk.”

According to the JI, convoys are in route from all around the nation to participate in the sit-in. He encouraged the administration to offer a location for the protest, highlighting that it is their constitutional and democratic right to speak up for the country.

“Any political party that wishes to participate” was invited, and he welcomed them all.

Prior to the sit-in, police raided the residences of JI leaders and officials in many parts of Punjab and Rawalpindi, making multiple arrests.

Ameerul Azim, the central secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, was not able to be arrested during the police raid; instead, Shaukat Mahmood, his driver, was taken into custody.

Latest News

The Socioeconomic Registry of Punjab. Real data gathering is essential to effective governance. Maryam

Published

14 hours ago

Farwa

Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab, announced that the province will introduce the “Apna Ghar Scheme,” adding that accurate data collecting is necessary in order to provide social security to the impoverished.

At the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry’s opening event in Lahore, the Maryam announced that the province’s government has started the “Roshan Gharana” project, which aims to provide 4.5 million individuals with solar panels on manageable installment plans.

Maryam Nawaz, who emphasized the necessity of centralized data, stated that data has become increasingly important in recent years since it makes basic amenities more accessible and aids in the classification of the poor.

She stated that several initiatives are being taken by the Punjabi government to assist those with disabilities.

The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, is dedicated to providing relief to the poor, according to Senior Provincial Minister Punjab Marriyum Aurangzeb, who spoke on the occasion.

The government, she noted, is concentrating on health and education services.

Latest News

The ECP asks the SC to clarify the ruling in the PTI reserved seat case.

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

Seeking clarity on a court ruling concerning the allotment of particular seats to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) moved the Supreme Court on Monday.

ECP members reportedly agreed unanimously on the SC’s decision to consult the SC.

Particularly cited under Paragraph 10 of the Supreme Court ruling, the ECP has called attention to vagueness in the ruling. In order to determine which body is in charge of party certificate issuance, the ECP is asking the Supreme Court for advice.

Concerning the validity of PTI’s party structure, the ECP pointed out that the organisation hasn’t held internal elections.

In the lack of distinct party organisation and intra-party elections, there is ambiguity over which certifications hold recognition.

Position of ECP

The absence of intra-party elections, according to ECP sources, prevents Tehreek-e-Insaaf from operating as a legitimate organisation.

A plea for clarification on party certificate authority and recognition has been made to the Supreme Court by the ECP.

Resolving the existing ambiguity and guaranteeing proper electoral processes will depend on the Supreme Court’s clarity on these issues.

Continue reading: ECP orders implementation of SC ruling regarding PTI reserved seats

Previous to this, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) reserved seat verdict will be implemented, according to a Friday announcement made by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of Pakistan.

On Friday, a meeting of ECP members was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

If the SC ruling is being carried out with any judicial decision becoming a roadblock, ECP has resolved to seek guidance from the judges in the room.

“The Supreme Court will be consulted for additional guidance in the event of any obstacles,” the ECP statement stated.

ECP declines resignation demand and political party criticism.

The chief election commissioner and members have been the target of persistent attack from a political party, which the highest electoral authority has sharply denounced. No political name was mentioned by the ECP.

The ECP called the demand for resignation from the party “absurd” and rejected the political party’s unjustified criticism, which had been made continuously.

Regardless of the pressure, the statement said, ECP would keep up its adherence to the law and the Constitution.