Judge threat case: Islamabad Court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: A local court in Islamabad on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan in a case relating to hurling threats at a female judge.

Judge Rana Mujahid Rahim of district and session court rejected Imran Khan’s application seeking exemption from appearance in the court and issued his arrest warrants for failing to attend the hearing of the case registered against him for hurling threats at Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry.

While pronouncing the reserved verdict, the judge adjourned the hearing until March 29, ordering Margalla Police Station to produce Imran Khan on the next hearing.

During the court proceedings, lawyer for the PTI chief Intezar Haider Panjutha said it was not safe for the 71-year-old politician to come to Islamabad amid security threats against him, adding they have filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) asking permission to appear virtually before the courts.

Another member of Khan’s legal team, Naeem Haider Panjutha, said a petition has been filed seeking exemption from attendance on behalf of the former prime minister on security grounds.

The lawyer also requested to accept Imran’s plea, arguing “not appearing for some reasons and not willing to appear are two different things.”

Earlier, the sessions court had rejected the PTI chief’s plea by saying “if Imran did not appear in court today, a non-bailable arrest warrant against him would be issued.

The judge said that if Imran Khan does not appear during court hours today, he would issue a non-bailable arrest warrant against him. After that, the court briefly adjourned the hearing till 12:30pm and later resumed it.

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