An Islamabad district and sessions court suspended on Tuesday non-bailable arrest warrants issued for PTI chairman Imran Khan in a case about threats issued to a judge.
On Monday, Senior Civil Judge Rana Mujahid Rahim issued arrest warrants for Imran while hearing a case registered against the ex-premier for using threatening language against Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry and the Islamabad police officials.
In yesterday’s hearing, Imran’s counsel had said that the former prime minister was ready to join the proceedings through video link. However, Judge Rahim rejected the plea and instructed the police to produce Imran in court by March 29.
Subsequently, the PTI challenged the warrants in the district court, which the court of ADSJ Faizan Haider Gilani took up. In its written order today, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the court said that Imran’s counsel contended that “due to security threat to the life of petitioner, the petitioner could not appear before the learned trial court”.
“In this regard, the security provided by the government has also been withdrawn. Learned counsel for the petitioner sought an adjournment to place on record the letter of the Government of Punjab, whereby, the security provided to the petitioner (former prime minister) was withdrawn,” the court noted.
It said the petitioner’s counsel sought an adjournment to place on record the letter of the Punjab government, whereby, the security provided to Imran was withdrawn. “Let the needful be done,” the ruling said.
It said that the arguments raised by Imran’s petition needed consideration.
“Now to come up for arguments on 16.03.2023. Meanwhile, operation of the impugned order is hereby suspended till the next date,” the order added.