Islamabad High Court halts Imran's arrest.

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday suspended non: bailable arrest warrants issued against Chairman Pakistan Tehrik: e: Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan by a district and sessions court in the Toshakhana reference till March 13.

A single bench of IHC comprisAing Chief Justice of IHC Justice Aamer Farooq conducted hearing of Khan's petition challenging isAsuance of his non: bailable arrest warrants by Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal in the ToshakhaAna case and accepted the same diArecting the PTI chairman to enAsure that he appears before the lower court on March 13.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq announced the verdict after it was reserved earlier in the day hearAing the arguments of both the sides. Justice Aamer noted in his written order, 'Even though, no ilAlegality, as such, has been pointed out by learned counsel for the peAtitioner in the impugned orders; it is only appropriate in the inAterest of justice that an opportuAnity is allowed to the petitioner for making appearance without the hanging sword of relevant poAlice officer arresting him to proAduce before the court or initiation of procedure under sections 87 and 88 of the Code.'

'For the above reasons, non: bailable warrants of arArest issued to procure attenAdance of the petitioner shall reAmain suspended/in abeyance till 13.03.2023, on which date, the petitioner shall positively apApear before learned trial court to face the proceedings. In case, the petitioner does not tender appearance on the date in quesAtion, suspension shall cease to have effect and the learned trial court shall be at liberty to proAceed in accordance with law,' said Justice Aamer.

The IHC bench added, 'HowAever, as is obvious from orAder dated 06.03.2023 by the learned trial court and even at Bar today, willingness was shown on behalf of petitionAer regarding entering appearAance before learned trial court provided four weeks time is alAlowed; the time offered on beAhalf of petitioner to enter apApearance before learned trial court is unreasonable but in orAder to meet the ends of justice, it is only appropriate that some time is allowed to the petitionAer to enter appearance before learned trial court before proAceedings are initiated to declare him as a 'proclaimed offender'.'

The sessions court was set to indict Imran in the Toshakhana Reference on February 28 but his lawyer had requested the judge that he be exempted from the hearing because he had to appear in several other courts. His...