By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended the non-bailable arrest warrant against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and asked to appear before a lower court hearing on March 13 in the Toshakhana case.
Khan, stands accused of failing to disclose money earned from selling state gifts he received when he was in power, failed to appear before the session court for the fourth time on Tueday.
The IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, announcing the verdict that he reserved earlier in the day, directed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief to appear before the district and sessions court on March 13, rejecting a plea by Khan’s lawyer to give four weeks for appearance before the court in the case.
The warrants were issued by a sessions judge, Zafar Iqbal, last week after Khan persistently remained absent from the proceedings against him.
“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,” Khan’s lawyer told reporters
During the hearing, the top IHC judge gave Khan’s lawyers 30 minutes to tell when the former PM would appear before the court.
He noted that all judges faced security threats as well, asking: “Should I shut down the court?”
Farooq told Khan’s legal team to “be fair with the system” and not to “make a joke of it.”
Islamabad Advocate General Jahangir Khan Jadoon told IHC that Khan was preparing to spearhead his party’s election campaign while citing security reasons to stay away from the court proceedings.
Khan has been in the crosshairs for buying gifts, including an expensive Graff wristwatch he had received as the premier at a discounted price from the state depository and selling them for profit.
On October 21 last year, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said the Pakistan PTI chief made “false statements and incorrect declarations” regarding these gifts.
Subsequently the ECP in a landmark judgement disqualified Khan for making “false statements and incorrect declaration” in the Toshakhana issue.
On Sunday, an Islamabad police team reached Khan’s residence in Lahore with the court summons. The team, however, returned empty-handed when the situation got tensed after the ex-premier’s supporters blocked its entry to his home.
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