On Friday, a district and sessions court in Pakistan changed the non-bailable arrest warrant for Imran Khan, the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and former prime minister, to a bailable one in a case involving the intimidation of a female judge. The decision was made by Judge Sikandar Khan, who heard the appeal of the non-bailable arrest warrant that was issued by Judicial Magistrate Malik Aman.
During the hearing, the court dismissed the non-bailable arrest warrant and issued a bailable one instead. Imran Khan was required to provide surety bonds in the amount of Rs20,000. Imran’s attorney told the media that the issuance of the non-bailable arrest warrant was “unlawful” and “illegal”, and this judgment was a success because it prevented the prosecution from “creating another scene” outside Zaman Park.
However, this was not the end of Imran’s legal troubles. On Wednesday, a district and sessions court denied Imran’s plea for an exemption from the presence and issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for the hearing on April 18. Imran had appealed the decision to issue an arrest warrant and contested it, arguing that his life was in danger.
The prosecutor in the case, Raja Rizwan Abbasi, claimed that since Imran was not present, the bailable warrant should be amended to a non-bailable one. The prosecution refuted Imran’s argument that his life was in danger and said that his medical report had not been provided. Furthermore, Imran’s request for an exemption from attendance was not signed by him, but by his attorneys, and no specific justifications were provided for non-appearance.
The court deferred judgment after listening to the arguments made by the attorneys and the prosecution. Eventually, Imran was given notice that his plea for an exemption had been denied, and a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued along with a summons to appear in court on April 18.
These legal proceedings highlight the ongoing challenges faced by Imran and his party. The PTI party has been embroiled in various controversies, including allegations of electoral fraud and corruption. Imran himself has faced criticism for his leadership and handling of the economy. The case involving the intimidation of a female judge is just the latest in a series of legal battles that Imran and his party have had to face.
In conclusion, the district and session court’s decision to change Imran’s non-bailable arrest warrant to a bailable one is a minor victory for him. However, the larger legal battle continues, and Imran’s plea for an exemption from presence has been denied, meaning that he must appear in court on April 18. The case involving the intimidation of a female judge underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Imran and his party, and the need for them to address these issues in order to maintain their credibility and legitimacy.
