A local court in Islamabad on Tuesday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case.
According to the details, Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal issued the arrest warrant as Imran Khan failed to appear before the court despite repeated orders.
Imran Khan was set to be indicted in the Toshakhana case today, but his lawyer requested the court that he be exempted from the hearing today because he had to appear in several other courts. Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal issued non-bailable arrest warrants and adjourned the hearing to March 7.
Imran Khan was scheduled to appear before three courts today to attend the hearings of multiple cases. These included a prohibited funding case in a banking court, an anti-terrorism case, and the Toshakhana and an attempt to murder cases in the same court. He has secured bail in the two cases pertaining to prohibited funding and terrorism.
Read more: Imran Khan disqualified: PTI to challenge ECP verdict in Toshakhana case
The situation outside the Islamabad High Court is shocking. Thousands of people chanting for #ImranKhan Arrest attempt isn't possible in the presence of thousands of workers. If they want to create an environment like a model town, then its their choice.#عمران_خان_ہماری_ریڈ_لائن pic.twitter.com/ftYaCHSTqP
— Zartaj Rathore (@RathoreZartaj) February 28, 2023
Toshakhana case against Imran Khan
Last year, the ECP while announcing the verdict in the Toshakhana reference, had disqualified Imran Khan by stating that Imran Khan submitted a false affidavit and was found involved in corrupt practices.
In the verdict, ECP also declared that Khan had made “false statements and incorrect declarations, therefore he has also committed the offense of corrupt practices defined under Sections 167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017”.
The verdict sparked a strong reaction from PTI who began protesting against the ECP. Several members of the local leadership of the PTI were booked in a case over alleged vandalism during the protests in Islamabad after ECP disqualified the former prime minister and PTI chief in the Toshakhana reference.
Read more: Toshakhana: The zenith of Imran Khan’s corruption?
According to Toshakhana rules, gifts/presents and other such materials received by persons to whom these rules apply shall be reported to the Cabinet Division. Amid this backdrop, Imran Khan is accused of concealing information about the gift of watches by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in his statement of assets submitted in 2018-2019.