A district and sessions court postponed its ruling on Imran Khan’s appeal for an exemption from the Toshakhana case on Monday.
Due to the PTI chief’s absence, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) postponed the local court’s non-bailable arrest order for the former prime minister last week.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq approved the PTI chief’s appeal against Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal’s ruling and ordered Khan to appear before the lower court on March 13.
Imran Khan’s legal team again requested an exemption and discharge at the start of today’s hearing, citing security threats. Judge Iqbal deferred the verdict on Khan’s counsel Khawaja Haris’s plea until 3:15 p.m. yesterday.
Khan, however, submitted an exemption petition during today’s hearing, citing security risks, and again failed to show up in court.
The judge ordered the PTI leader’s arrest and presentation before the court on March 18 after rejecting Khan’s request for an exemption.
“It is the police’s job to bring Imran Khan to the court,” remarked the court.
“Imran Khan isn’t intentionally avoiding court,” lawyer
The sessions court summoned the PTI chairman for his indictment. Khan’s lawyer said, “he will not appear in court today.”
Khan’s attorney argued the case should be admissible before obtaining an arrest warrant and that legal standards were not considered when submitting a complaint against Khan.
“The district election commissioner filed a complaint against Imran Khan,” he claimed, adding that the complaint instructed the PTI chairman to take action.
He stated that the Election Commission can complain about the previous premier. “There was no requirement for an affidavit while lodging a complaint against Khan and the complainant had different signatures on the affidavit and the statement,” Haris said.
Khan’s counsel also noted that a complaint against corrupt practice and criminal procedures should have been submitted within 120 days, but it was filed three years later.
Haris said the IHC had postponed the warrant until yesterday and ordered legal proceedings. Saad Hasan, Election Commission’s lawyer, argued that Khan’s arrest warrant is the major issue.
“There is no issue if the court feels the complaint is inadmissible,” he added.
Hasan claimed the “IHC’s warrant suspension expired today and that the high court ordered Khan to appear today.” The session court should verify the warrant’s execution.
Khan’s counsel said the former PM should not be prosecuted. He stated that all previous sessions will be unconstitutional if the ECP must argue the complaint’s admissibility.
Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha, PML-N leader, told reporters that Imran Khan is breaking the law. He said Khan should be arrested by the IHC on the court’s warrant.
“Imran Khan must answer for stealing. Escaping the court, “Ranjha said. The PML-N leader criticised Khan for destroying the nation.
“Imran Khan did not plan any countrywide project during his three-year reign,” he criticized.
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