Imran's arrest warrants cancelled after day-long chaos.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan's arrest warrants in Toshakhana case were cancelled on Saturday as Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal allowed him to leave after marking his attendance due to clashes between Islamabad Police and PTI workers outside the Judicial Complex.

The hearing was adjourned till March 30 (Thursday) due to the turbulence and chaos witnessed Saturday, with the judge ordering Imran to appear in personal capacity in the next hearing.

As Imran and his motorcade earlier reached outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex, he alleged that he was not being allowed to enter the court's premises.

Advertisement

In an audio message released to the media, Imran said: 'I am waiting outside the [judicial complex's] door for 15 minutes and am fully trying to enter but they've done teargas [shelling] and erected checkpoints and it seems they don't want that I reach here.'

Despite that, he reiterated that he was outside the complex and was attempting to enter it. A large number of party workers, who were accompanying the former prime minister, were attempting to escort him onto court premises, but due to security arrangements, they were not being allowed to.

Pemra had banned television coverage of the Judicial Complex and political rallies.

As the hearing resumed, the ex-premier's legal team submitted a plea on his behalf in court stating that Imran was present outside the judicial complex. 'He has been present outside for an hour,' it said.

Advertisement

The plea added that the police were shelling at him and preventing him to enter the court.

'Send your staff outside to accept my appearance,' Imran stated in the plea. 'Send the Islamabad police a notice of contempt of court'.

At this Judge, Iqbal said: 'Since you have submitted a plea, I can send a court official outside.'

'Go outside and bring Imran inside the premises along with his car,' the judge told a court official. 'Tell the police to let the accused come inside according to the...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT