ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court on Friday blocked police from arresting former prime minister Imran Khan in a case involving the sale of state gifts.
The court accepted an undertaking by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman to appear before a sessions court tomorrow, ordering the police to provide him proper security.
The PTI chief moved the high court a day after a district and sessions court in the federal capital dismissed a petition filed by Khan, seeking suspension of arrest warrants issued against him in the Toshkhana case.
Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal delivered the verdict after hearing arguments from PTI lawyers Khawaja Harris and Barrister Gohar, Islamabad IGP Nasir Akbar Khan and other parties.
The PTI had moved the petitions for suspension of warrants after the Islamabad High Court asked it to submit an undertaking in the trial court that Imran Khan would appear before it on March 18.
Imran Khan was ousted from office through a no-confidence vote and has been snarled in dozens of cases, including Toshakhana. The district court last week issued arrest warrants against him over avoiding the hearings in the case.
However, he has been resisting arrest in the Toshakhana case and is staying at his Zaman Park residence fortified by the supporters, who have fought “pitched battles” with the police and Rangers over the past few days.
This is the fifth time he has been given the chance to appear before the trial court on March 18 when he is expected to be indicted for allegedly selling state gifts.
Imran Khan s plea for suspension of arrest warrants in Toshakhana case turned down
