Islamabad court cancels Imran Khan's arrest warrants in Thoshakhana case

Islamabad:   The sessions court on Saturday cancelled arrest warrants issued earlier for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and adjourned further hearing till March 30.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal passed the order after Imran Khan reached outside the judicial complex for hearing of the case.

The judge allowed Imran Khan to leave after marking attendance in his car. 

According to the reports, the court sought arguments on maintainbility of the case, observing that Imran Khan must appear on that day. The judge also remarked that what would be the situation woud be that day was a separate thing. 

Earlier, Imran Khan hardly reached the judicial complex as his convoy faced huge hurdles in Islamabad. It took huge time to him to reach the courtroom. 

Allowing Imran Khan to mark attendance in his car, the judge observed, "the judiciary wants peace and not conflict while sending attendance papers at the gate to mark attendance outside the judicial complex,” observed he court while taking up the matter.

The court also allowed Imran Khan to leave back to his home after the attendance.

The PTI Chief had reached the judicial complex to attend the hearing in Thoshakhana case.

Qafla of PTI Chairman @ImranKhanPTI near Judicial complex a while ago. #چلو_چلو_عمران_کے_ساتھ pic.twitter.com/2OKYBmJKlZ

— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 18, 2023

The latest reports said that the Islamabad police arrested Shibli Faraz and later left him at the gate of the judicial complex after the court directed the police let Shibli Faraz in.

“Let there be peace,” remarked the judge as the matter was brought into the notice of the court. The court was informed that it was not just Shibli Faraz as many other PTI leaders were arrested by the police.

The latest reports said that Imran Khan returend from outside the judicial complex after marking the attendance. 

Earlier in the day, Punjab police launched operation in Zaman Park--the residence of Imran Khan--soon as he left for Islamabad to attend hearing of Thoshakhana case. 

The police broke down the gate of Imran Khan's residence and entered into it. The footages showed that the police tortured the PTI workers and took over 20 workers into custody. The police also claimed to have recovered weapons from Zaman Park. 

Reactions: 

PTI Chief Imran Khan questioned the police operation inside Zaman Park, saying that under what law it was launched. He said that his wife Bushra Begum was alone at the residence. 

He tweeted, "Meanwhile Punjab police have led an assault on my house in Zaman Park where Bushra Begum is alone. Under what law are they doing this? This is part of London Plan where commitments were made to bring absconder Nawaz Sharif to power as quid pro quo for agreeing to one appointment,". 

Meanwhile Punjab police have led an assault on my house in Zaman Park where Bushra Begum is alone. Under what law are they doing this? This is part of London Plan where commitments were made to bring absconder Nawaz Sharif to power as quid pro quo for agreeing to one appointment.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 18, 2023

In another tweet, Khan said, " It is also obvious now that the entire siege of Lahore was not about ensuring I appear before the court in a case but was intended to take me away to prison so that I am unable to lead our election campaign,". 

It is also obvious now that the entire siege of Lahore was not about ensuring I appear before the court in a case but was intended to take me away to prison so that I am unable to lead our election campaign.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 18, 2023    

PTI President Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi also strongy condemned the police operation in Zaman Park, saying that it was not justifiable. He said that Imran Khan was a national leader.  The other PTI leaders including Fawad Chaudhary, Shireen Mazari and Hammad Azhar also termed it "terrorism". 

Fawad Chaudhary said they would file contempt petition agianst IGP and others for violating court orders regarding operation in Zaman Park. He said that both sides had already agreed on the matter before the court and TORs were to be made but that agreement was violated.