A district and sessions court in the federal capital reserved a verdict on a petition filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan seeking exemption from appearance in the Toshakhana case owing to security threats. Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from Mr Khan’s lawyer, Khawaja Harris, on the petition. He would pronounce the verdict at 3:30pm. The court has summoned the PTI chief today for indictment in the case initiated on the complaint filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan. PTI chief’s lawyer Khawaja Harris told that his client could not appear in court due to security threats. He said Mr Khan was not deliberately skipping the hearings, adding that it was on the record that he got injured when an assassination attempt was made on him last year.

He informed the judge that petitions had been filed in the Islamabad High Court and Lahore High Court for appearance of his client via video link.He also submitted another plea asking the court to declare the petition filed by the ECP seeking criminal proceedings against the PTI chief inadmissible. Khawaja Harris raised questions on the ECP complaint saying it was not filed by a competent authority. He said it was yet to see in which conditions the ECP could file a complaint. He opposed the indictment of Imran Khan in the case.Last week, the IHC suspended the non-bailable arrest warrants issued against the former PM by Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal in the graft case related to the purchase and sale of gifts from the Toshakhana till March 13.

IHC chief justice Aamer Farooq accepted Khan plea against judge decision and directed the PTI chairman to ensure that he appears or March 13 before the trial court that had issued the arrest warrants. The former prime minister has thrice skipped indictment hearings in the district and sessions court in the case initiated at the request of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for concealing the details of gifts he retained from the Toshakhana while in the power. Last Sunday, the capital police reached Mr Khan’s residence in Zaman Park on Sunday to arrest him after the sessions court issued warrants against him but he reportedly “dodged” them.

A few hours later, Mr Khan, while addressing the party workers, demanded a public hearing of the case. He came hard on the coalition government for its incompetence and mismanagement. His speech had prompted Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ban television channels from broadcasting his speeches and news conferences. It accused the PTI chief of attacking the state's institutions and promoting hatred. Later, the Pemra notification was suspended by the LHC.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP