Islamabad (Web Desk): A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan for skipping the court appearance in a case in connection with his remarks regarding threats to Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry at an August 20 public rally in the federal capital.
Civil Judge Rana Mujahid Rahim announced the reserved verdict while issuing notices to the parties for arguments in the acquittal petition.
Dismissing Khan's petition seeking exemption from hearing the case in person, the court ordered the police to produce the PTI chief before it by March 29.
The judge also said that the court will hear arguments on Imran’s petition seeking to be dismissed from the case in the next proceedings.
The case against the former prime minister was registered on August 20, 2022 with the Margalla Police Station in the federal capital over his remarks at a rally in F9 Park where he warned Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry and high ranking police officials of dire consequences, as well as the judiciary for what he had called its “biased” attitude towards his party.
The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged hours before another Islamabad police station received a written complaint from a resident of G-11/2 for lodging a case against Imran over making hate-speeches, and inciting rebellion against the army, police and judiciary.
The FIR was registered less than an hour after Imran Khan addressed party workers and supporters at a rally in Islamabad’s F-9 park to express solidarity with PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, who was arrested on sedition charges on August 9, 2022.
