The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday (March 17) suspended the non-bailable arrest warrant of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case. But that was done only for two days. The warrant was originally suspended to allow Imran Khan to appear before the trial court on Saturday (March 18).
Chief Justice of IHC Amer Farooq ordered the Islamabad District and Sessions Court and the police to provide adequate security to PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
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Imran Khan, mired in legal entanglements, was virtually under siege at his Zaman Park residence for days. A joint team of police and Rangers could not arrest him despite long efforts. Security forces failed to enter Imran’s house when thousands of PTI workers-supporters blocked it.
A team of Islamabad police was in Lahore since Monday to arrest Imran Khan. However, a large number of activists-supporters surrounded the PTI chairman’s house in Zaman Park to prevent his arrest.
According to the police, they went to arrest Imran Khan based on the warrant issued by the court in the Toshakhana case. Of the four cases pending against him, only one had an arrest warrant.
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However, the security forces failed to break the barrier wall of the supporters despite trying for two consecutive days. They clashed several times with Imran supporters. Meanwhile, PTI workers pelted bricks and stones at the security forces. PTI alleged that the police fired water cannon-tear gas to disperse them.
Read more>> The police retreated after the strong resistance of the supporters
At least half a hundred policemen, including the DIG of Islamabad, were injured in the clash with PTI workers. And the tear gas cannon fired by the police fell inside Imran Khan’s house, PTI said.
The former prime minister alleged that the real intention of the police was to abduct and kill him. He claimed that the drama of the arrest was arranged for this. The 70-year-old leader urged the people to come down on the streets to prevent it.
After failing to arrest the security forces finally retreated on Wednesday night. Immediately after this, the leaders and workers of PTI burst into joy. However, the police said that the start of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was behind the suspension of the arrest operation. Separately, the Lahore High Court also intervened and ordered the suspension of the operation.
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However, on Thursday, a sessions court in Islamabad decided to uphold the warrant. Stating that Imran Khan has ‘challenged the state’s dignity and writ’, the judge upheld the order to arrest him and produce him before the court by March 18.
Source: Dawn, Geo News
KAA/
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