Islamabad court upholds Imran's arrest warrants in Toshakhana case.

An Islamabad district and sessions court on Monday upheld the non-bailable arrest warrants for PTI Chairman Imran Khan it issued last week in the Toshakhana case over his persistent absences in the case hearings.

Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal announced the verdict reserved earlier in the day after hearing the arguments on an application filed by the PTI chief seeking the cancellation of his warrants.

The same court had last week issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran after he decided not to turn up before the court while attending hearings of three other cases - prohibited funding, terrorism, and attempted murder - filed against him in other local courts located in proximity.

On Sunday, an Islamabad police team was sent to Lahore to arrest Imran with the court summons. However, it returned empty-handed after the PTI chief evaded the arrest.

Subsequently, Imran petitioned the Islamabad sessions court arguing that the withdrawal of warrants would enable him 'a fair opportunity to appear and defend himself' in the case.

The PTI chief is accused of concealing, in his assets declarations, details of the gifts he retained from the Toshakhana - a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept. Officials are legally allowed to retain gifts provided they pay a pre-assessed amount, typically a fraction of the value of the gift.

Court order

In the judgement issued today, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, ADSJ Iqbal said that Imran had not challenged the arrest warrants issued for him at any forum.

'The accused was in a position to appear in this court on Feb 28 after his appearances in different honourable courts but he wilfully avoided to appear in this court.

'A warrant shall remain enforced until it is cancelled by the court which issued it or until it is executed as per Section 75(2) Cr.P.C,' the court order stated.

It said that the warrant had been issued for Imran's appearance in the trial, but noted that the PTI chief was not present in court even today.

'The accused has not surrendered himself before the court till yet and no application for his personal appearance for today is annexed with the [court] record. The accused has not appeared in court for ensuring his appearance in the trial in future, therefore, the application is rejected,' it added.

The hearing

PTI lawyers Qaisar Imam, Ali Bukhari, and Barrister Gohar appeared on behalf of the party head in the hearing today.

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