ISLAMABAD, Mar 14 (NNI): PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday won a reprieve from court in Islamabad after he challenged the non-bailable arrest warrants in case of hurling threats at female judge.
The court ordered the authorities not to arrest Imran Khan until March 16, halting implementation on the non-bailable arrest warrants.
Additional Sessions Judge Faizan Haider heard the appeal filed by Imran Khan earlier on Tuesday. Advocates Naeem Haider and Intezar Haider represented Imran Khan in the court.
Earlier in the day, Imran Khan challenged the non-bailable arrest warrants issued for him yesterday in the case of threatening a female judge. The appeal was filed in the court of Duty Judge Sikandar Khan in Islamabad.
A local court in Islamabad had on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran Khan in the case of threatening female judge Zeba Chaudhry.
Judge Rana Mujahid Rahim of the district and sessions court had rejected Imran’s application seeking exemption from appearance in the court and issued his arrest warrants for failing to attend hearing of the case registered against him for hurling threats at Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry.
While pronouncing the reserved verdict, the judge had adjourned the hearing until March 29, ordering Margalla Police Station to produce Imran Khan before the court at the next hearing.
During the court proceedings, lawyer for the PTI chief Intezar Haider Panjutha had said it was not safe for the 71-year-old politician to come to Islamabad amid security threats, adding they had filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) asking permission to appear virtually before the courts.
Another member of Imran’s legal team, Naeem Haider Panjutha, had said a petition had been filed on behalf of the former prime minister, seeking exemption from attendance on security grounds. The lawyer also requested the court to accept Imran’s plea, arguing “not appearing for some reasons and not willing to appear are two different things.”
Irked by Judge Zeba’s refusal to grant bail to PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, the PTI chairman, in a speech at Islamabad’s F-9 Park, had said if PTI came to power again, it would take legal action against the judge. NNI
