Title: Toshakhana case: Imran Khan’s warrants canceled after day-long chaos
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Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal has cancelled the arrest warrants issued against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case.
The decision was made after the former prime minister marked his attendance outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex, where he was supposed to be indicted in the case.
The hearing was scheduled to take place on Saturday, but due to the turbulence and chaos witnessed as police and PTI workers clashed outside the complex, the hearing was adjourned till March 30 (Thursday).
Judge Zafar Iqbal stated that the situation was not conducive to hold the hearing and appearance, and all those who had gathered there should disperse peacefully.
Judge Zafar Iqbal earlier allowed Imran Khan to leave after his attendance was marked outside the G-11 Judicial Complex amid unrest between police and party supporters.
Intense clashes broke out between the two sides as Imran's convoy reached the judicial complex ahead of the party chairman's appearance before a district and sessions court in the Toshakhana (gift depository) case.
The PTI chairman's vehicle was stopped merely 100 metres from the gate of the judicial complex as the police blamed party workers for blocking the route while the PTI claimed the law enforcers were restricting Imran's movement.
Despite the end of court hours, Imran Khan could not appear in front of the judge.
Judge Zafar Iqbal stated that due to the ongoing hostilities between Islamabad Police and PTI workers outside the Judicial Complex, the hearing and appearance cannot take place in the current situation.
He advised all those present to disperse peacefully, without resorting to any form of violence such as shelling or pelting stones after marking of Imran Khan’s attendance.
He also mentioned that the hearing cannot be conducted today, and the next date for the hearing can only be decided after obtaining the PTI chief's signatures.
The PTI chief left for Lahore without stepping out of his bullet-proof vehicle at the gate of Judicial Complex.
Earlier, Imran Khan filed an application in the court, stating that he was present at the gate outside the complex, and his presence should be recorded at the gate.
As the court resumed the proceedings today, the PTI chairman’s counsel, Khawaja Haris, informed Judge Iqbal that Imran has come to the gate but is being stopped from entering the premises.
Judge Iqbal inquired why was the PTI chief being barred from entering the premises. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lawyer remarked that Imran 'should have been here as the court started at 8:30am'.
The judge maintained that the ousted premier is “facing hardship”, adding that the court should wait for him.
PTI lawyer Awan also prepared a new application on behalf of the party chief. “I am at the gate of the judicial complex and I’m being denied entry,” stated the application.
The former premier requested the court to send its staff to mark his attendance and “initiate contempt of court proceedings against the police”.
After a short recess, Judge Iqbal directed court staff to take a police officer along and present Imran before the court.
To this, PTI counsel requested the judge to send PTI representatives with the court staff, to which the judge agreed.
Judge Iqbal then directed a court representative to mark Imran’s attendance outside the court premises. “Imran can go back once the attendance is marked,” stated the judge.
Complying with the court orders, court staff and Babar Awan left the courtroom to mark the PTI chief’s attendance.
Haris also informed the court that senior leader Shibli Faraz is being 'tortured' by the police. To this, the judge stated that he wants to end the current unrest.
The venue of the hearing was changed to the G-11 Judicial Complex instead of the F-8 Katcheri due to security concerns raised by the former premier. Judge Zafar Iqbal will preside over the hearing.
PTI Secretary General Asad Umar strongly condemned the police for “preventing Imran from going to court”. He added that the former prime minister is near the court premises and claimed police was standing in the way.
Umar also said that instead of allowing Imran to go to court, the police started tear gas shelling. “The worst brutality is being shown by the police."
Imran appeared in court for the first time today after repeated summons for seven hearings. A day earlier, the Islamabad High Court suspended the non-bailable arrest warrants issued for the PTI chairman till today, giving him the opportunity to voluntarily appear before the sessions court.
Imran's convoy earlier reached the Islamabad toll plaza with reports of the route being blocked.
'Government intends to arrest me'
Imran, in a video message earlier in the afternoon, said the incumbent government intended to arrest him as he made his way to a district and sessions court in Islamabad.
Read Toshakhana: Imran eyeing relief from SC
Issuing a special statement while en route to Islamabad, the PTI chairman said he “knows that he will be arrested but is still making his way to the court because he 'believes rule of law'".
??????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ?????
#???_???_?????_??_???? pic.twitter.com/8c0l0aC5eC
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 18, 2023
“I want to tell you all that these people [government] have made a plan to arrest me,” he said, adding that he was ready to go the Islamabad court before as well.
“The Zaman park operation was not done to make me appear before the court, it was done to put me in jail…because it is part of the London plan to put me in jail,” he added.
He stated that this is the “demand” of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in order to prevent him from taking part in the upcoming elections.
The former premier reiterated that he knows that he will be arrested, adding that he believes in rule of law.
It is also obvious now that the entire siege of Lahore was not about ensuring I appear before the court in a case but was intended to take me away to prison so that I am unable to lead our election campaign.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 18, 2023
It is now clear that, despite my having gotten bail in all my cases, the PDM govt intends to arrest me. Despite knowing their malafide intentions, I am proceeding to Islamabad & the court bec I believe in rule of law. But ill intent of this cabal of crooks shd be clear to all.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 18, 2023
‘Police terrorism not acceptable'
Meanwhile, PTI senior leader Fawad Chaudhry demanded Islamabad authorities open the internal roads of the capital.
????? ???? ?? ??????? ????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ????? ???? ???????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ????
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 18, 2023
“The internal roads of Islamabad should be opened immediately, let the Constitution and law remain in the country,” he said in a tweet.
The former interior minister added that the party is filing an urgent writ in the IHC, adding that “police terrorism is not acceptable in the name of administrative arrangements”.
PTI senior leader Asad Umar also criticised the capital administration for “blocking roads”.
“Roads to court are blocked from all sides. Those whose names are on the court list are also not allowed to pass. It seems that famous terrorists are coming,” he said.
????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ?? ?? ??? ???? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) March 18, 2023
Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the capital police said that all routes in the city are open, adding that special security measures have been implemented around the judicial complex.
The Islamabad police also stated that court orders and code of conduct are being followed, adding that 12 journalists, including three women journalists, included in the court-issued list are currently inside the judicial complex.
Moreover, in wake of the current situation in the federal capital, an emergency has been imposed in the hospitals of Islamabad.
The police added that Imran’s convoy is coming the wrong way on the Islamabad-Srinagar highway, due to which there has been a disruption in the outgoing traffic. The police further requested the PTI chief’s convoy to change direction at the nearest U-turn.
Babar Awan files written application
The PTI chairman's lawyer, Babar Awan, filed a written application in the court against the barring of party lawyers, officials and media from entering the judicial complex.
“The entire area has been cordoned off in the name of security by the police and administration,” Awan stated in the application.
The PTI counsel added that despite clear orders from the honourable high court, the situation is very serious and alarming.
“There is no legal justification for banning the entry of lawyers and media in the open court,” furthered Awan.
He requested the court to take notice of the “poor and unjustifiable policy of the administration” and issue orders for the entry of important persons including lawyers and media into the court.
Heavy police presence on M-2
A large police contingent was present on the Lahore - Islamabad M-2 motorway near the Islamabad toll plaza.
Rawalpindi Police personnel, led by CPO Khalid Hamdani and SP Potohar, were deployed and equipped with riot gear and tear gas. A large number of PTI workers also reached the Islamabad Motorway Toll Plaza.
The toll plaza was partially sealed by authorities and traffic was channeled into two lanes.
It was also reported that tear gas shelling took place at the toll plaza with Section 144 imposed in the capital.
Police reportedly baton-charged PTI workers on the Islamabad Srinagar highway where a large number of workers were gathered.
The law enforcers were on high alert stating that the party workers were attempting to block the highway.
As per orders, nobody will be allowed to carry arms and weapons will be taken from the people accompanying the rally before entering Islamabad.
Former MNA Ghulam Sarwar Khan reached the toll plaza to welcome the party chairman and said that “section 144 was imposed to stop Imran”.
Meanwhile, the former prime minister’s convoy reached Balkasar Interchange.
A plan was also decided upon for Imran’s return from Islamabad to Lahore. The ousted premier will leave for the provincial capital using the same route after the court appearance.
Vehicles in convoy suffer mishap
Three vehicles in the former prime minister’s convoy collided near Kallar Kahar and rescue workers are shifting the injured to a nearby hospital.
The accident reportedly also involved a jammer vehicle.
Imran leaves for court
Earlier in the morning, Imran left his Zaman Park residence for the court in Islamabad. The party’s official Twitter handle also tweeted the development and shared a video of Imran's convoy on the motorway making its way to Islamabad.
Chairman PTI @ImranKhanPTI’s qafla moves towards Islamabad. #???_???_?????_??_???? pic.twitter.com/hoRmDK9Iby
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 18, 2023
The former prime minister was also welcomed upon his arrival in Pindi Bhattiyan.
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#???_???_?????_??_????
pic.twitter.com/KWcRxfXhZP
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 18, 2023
Security arrangements
Authorities made strict security arrangements for the ousted premier's appearance in court, with the judicial complex fortified with containers on its perimeter and all traffic barred from entering the area.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, waves from the vehicle as he leaves from Lahore to appear before Islamabad High Court, in Lahore, Pakistan March 18, 2023. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
According to reports, around 4,000 personnel and officers of the Islamabad Capital Police, FC and the Punjab Police are deployed on security duty for the duration of the case's hearing at the judicial complex.
Law enforcers are also deployed on the routes leading to the judicial complex.
Earlier today, the ousted premier’s lawyer Babar Awan and party member Shibli Faraz were barred from entering the judicial complex.
It was reported that only three PTI lawyers and five party leaders will be allowed to enter the premises and four prosecution lawyers will be allowed to enter the judicial complex.
Moreover, media will not be allowed on the premises.
The arrest warrant of the former prime minister was issued for the first time on February 28 and the second time on March 13.
A day earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended Imran’s non-bailable arrest warrants in the Toshakhana criminal proceedings case.
Read more Uneasy calm prevails at Zaman Park
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the application filed by Imran against the arrest warrant issued by a session court. The hearing started after the former prime minister’s biometrics were conducted in Lahore.
IHC also stated that the ousted prime minister should appear within the court hours tomorrow, adding that if he does not appear, contempt of court proceedings will be initiated.
During the proceedings of the case earlier on Thursday, the judge had offered Imran that he would halt attempts by the Islamabad police to arrest him at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore if he surrendered before the court.
The offer came as skirmishes broke out between the Islamabad police and PTI activists when the former reached Imran’s residence.
Both sides battled for two days, with other law enforcement agencies joining the Islamabad police. Calm only returned after judicial intervention.
Published Date: 18-Mar-2023
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