Court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran in judge threatening case

Judge instructs the police to arrest the ousted premier and present him before the court by March 29

ISLAMABAD:

A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for PTI chairman Imran Khan in a case pertaining to threatening remarks against Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry.

The case against the former prime minister was registered on August 20, 2022, with Margalla police station in the federal capital over his remarks at a rally in F9 Park where he warned Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry and police high-ups of dire consequences for what he called their “biased” attitude towards his party.

Imran alleged that Judge Zeba knew that incarcerated party leader Shahbaz Gill was tortured, but she did not release him on bail. The former premier was booked in a terrorism case on the complaint of Islamabad Saddar Magistrate Ali Javed for threatening the additional sessions judge.

The hearing today was presided by Judge Rana Mujahid Rahim, who instructed the police to arrest the ousted premier and present him before the court by March 29.

The judge added that the court will hear arguments on a petition seeking Imran's dismissal from the case during the next hearing.

During the proceedings earlier today, the judge had warned Imran of issuing arrest warrants as the court rejected his request for exemption from appearance over security concerns.

Read Imran, others booked for 'hiding facts' in PTI worker death case

The PTI chief was summoned by the court today to hand over the case copies to him. Presiding over the hearing, Justice Rana rejected an application filed by Imran's lawyer seeking an exemption from appearance citing security concerns.

"If Imran fails to appear before the court during working hours today then a non-bailable arrest warrant will be issued against him," said the judge as the court went into recess.

The Islamabad High Court had earlier said it had been satisfied by Imran's attempt to tender an apology to the judge and retracted its show-cause notice in October, however, Islamabad Civil and Sessions Senior Judge Rana Mujahid Rahim had in December issued a notice to the PTI chief after police submitted their charge sheet in the case to the court.

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It may be noted that the court has previously overruled the prosecution's requests for issuing arrest warrants to Imran and granted him leave on medical grounds.