Although he was unable to attend the courtroom because of rioting in the Judicial complex compound, the court accepted Khan’s intention to appear in person in good faith, lifting the arrest order against him and putting off his arraignment until later.
By Naveed Naqvi
ISLAMABAD: Chaos visited Islamabad Saturday as Former Prime Minister Imran Khan made a dash from Lahore to present himself at a Sessions Court here for indictment in the notorious Toshakhana case.
Khan could not make it into the courtroom amid chaos after his procession forced its way into the Judicial Complex alongside his car, leading to clashes with the large contingent of law enforcement agencies called to ensure foolproof security for the ousted leader.
Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal heard the Toshakhana criminal case at Islamabad’s Judicial Complex, which had been put under strict lockdown, with only a limited number of people to be allowed in, to allay Khan’s apprehensions about his personal safety.
Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal went along with the contention of Khan’s lawyers that he had arrived in the courtyard to attend court proceedings but was unable to reach the courtroom due to the disorder.
He had the order sheet sent for Khan’s signature, but the police officer sent to secure Khan’s signature returned injured, empty handed, and unsure what became of the order sheet.
With the order sheet missing, the court eventually accepted Khan’s attendance in good faith, cancelling the warrant for his arrest and putting off the proceedings over the next date of hearing.
An interesting situation arose in the court when the attending police officer mentioned the missing order sheet.
Despite the end of court hours, Imran Khan could not appear in front of the judge.
Imran Khan filed an application in the court and requested permission to give attendance at the gate outside the complex, which was approved by the court.
During the hearing, the judge asked the lawyer, what do you think about the indictment? To which lawyer Khawaja Haris replied that the indictment takes place after the decision on the maintainability of the case, indictment can’t be charged today, the court has to decide on our admissibility plea, hear the case against next week.
After which the court ordered staff and police officers to take the attendance of Imran Khan on order sheet and present.
When the hearing of the case resumed, an interesting situation arose. SP Sami Malik appeared injured and said that the order sheet could not be signed.
The shelling was so much that it is not known where the file fell, on which lawyer Ali Gohar said that the video clip is here, the SP took the signed file from me.
When the SP asked for ten minutes to find the file, he adjourned again, however, the police officer could not find the file.
On the court order, the statement of the SP and Barrister Ali Gohar was recorded and both the parties were also directed to submit their written statements.
The court summoned Imran Khan again on March 30 in his personal capacity and asked for arguments on the maintainability of the application at the next hearing.
Violence first broke out on Srinagar Highway when Khan’s followers started pelting stones at a police contingent stationed to enforce the lockdown on this arterial and secure Khan’s entry into Judicial Complex.
The Judicial Complex itself became the battleground when Khan’s procession, including members armed staffs, handheld catapults, and stones, forced its way inside along with his bulletproof car.
Sporadic clashes continued into the evening, with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) cohorts damaging public property and burning several police vehicles including more than 25 motorcycles.
Police say nine of their members sustained injuries due to stone pelting by PTI rioters. The injured policemen have been shifted to hospital for medical assistance.
Inspector General Police Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan told media the rioters had used tear gas shells against the police.
The police resorted to heavy baton-charge and tear gas to disperse the protesters and keep them away from the Complex. Rioters were seen attacking police officers with batons.
PTI sources say party leaders Shibli Faraz and Murad Saeed were also injured during the clash. Faraz was detained by the police at one point but was released shortly afterwards.
IG Islamabad Akbar Nasir claimed that a police post was also set on fire by PTI workers. In the evening, he went enquiring after the health of injured policemen at Islamabad’s PIMS Hospital.
Among the injured cops are SSP Operations Malik Jameel Ahmed, SP Saddar Nausherwan Ali, SP Rural Hassan Jehangir, and SP Plan and Patrol Dr Sami Malik.
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