Imran Khan's plea seeking suspension of arrest warrant dismissed

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in the federal capital on Monday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s plea seeking cancellation of the non-bailable arrest warrant issued for him in the Toshakhana case.

On February 28, Additional sessions judge Zafar Iqbal of an Islamabad court issued the former prime minister’s non-bailable arrest warrant over his non-appearance.

Additional Session judge Zafar Iqbal announced the verdict he had reserved earlier in the day after a brief hearing of the arguments in the case.

During today’s hearing, Khan’s lawyers Ali Bukhari, Qaiser Imam and Gohar Ali Khan appeared before the court.

Yesterday, an Islamabad police team reached Lahore to arrest Khan but the police party was resisted by the PTI workers in Zaman Park.

Toshakhana verdict

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference under Article 63(1)(p).

In the written judgment, the ECP said: “As per the statement of Khan he had purchased the gifts from Toshakhana paying 21.564 million rupees while the Cabinet Division said that the gifts had a value of 107.943 million.”

“The amount in his bank account was around half of the value of the state gifts. Imran Khan was bound to declare the cash and bank details in his returns but he didn’t declare it,” ECP decision read.

“Imran Khan being declared disqualified and unseated from his National Assembly seat,” the ECP said, adding: “He has been disqualified under Article 63, 1(P), over submitting a false statement and declaration”.