Toshakhana Case: IHC suspended IK’s arrest warrants

Islamabad: On Tuesday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the non-bailable arrest warrants issued against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan until March 13 in the Toshakhana reference case. The IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq announced verdict. Yesterday court reserved it.

The court directed Imran Khan to appear before the district and sessions court on March 13. The 70-year-old ex-premier has thrice skipped indictment hearings in an Islamabad sessions court.

There are allegations of concealing details the gifts he retained from Toshakhana. On Feb 28, his indictment was deferred twice before. Subsequently, the judge issued arrest warrants for him and adjourned the hearing until March 7.

On March 5, the Islamabad police team reached to Lahore to arrest Imran with the court summons, but he evaded arrest. On March 6, the sessions judge upheld the warrant, ruling that the PTI chairman “wilfully avoided” appearing before the court. Imran has filed a petition in the IHC today, praying that IHC set aside sessions court’s Feb 28 and March 6 orders, so that he could have a “fair opportunity” to appear in court and defend himself.