The warrants were issued in case pertaining the parliament and the state television buildings (PTV) being stormed on September 1.
The warrants may provoke fresh unrest at a time when the country is struggling to rebuild its image.
Thousands of protesters led by Khan and Qadri demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over allegations of corruption and vote-rigging in the May 2013 polls.
The rallies turned deadly in early September when demonstrators clashed with police in a central area near government buildings and embassies. Three people were killed.
"I have just heard the good news about my arrest warrant," Khan said, addressing protesters late on Wednesday. "It will be easy for me to live in jail ... but I tell you, Nawaz Sharif, that you will have to pay a heavy price for my arrest."
The anti-terrorism court had also issued warrants against 33 others for storming parliament and trying to take over the Pakistan Television (PTV) building, taking it off air and beating up the station's staff.
"The anti-terror court is meant for trial of terrorists, not politicians," Khan's spokesperson, Shireen Mazari, said.
"Imran Khan's party will not allow police to arrest him."
Anti-terrorism courts are often used in Pakistan for non-terrorism related cases because they are faster and more efficient than regular courts.
"This is a politically motivated, vengeful case against us," Qadri's party leader, Raheeq Abbasi, said. "The whole world knows that the PTV attack was a set-up."
Abbasi was among those for whom warrants had been issued.
Khan wants Sharif to step down because he believes the prime minister rigged the election. Sharif, who denies the charge, won the vote by a landslide, taking 190 of the 342 seats in the first democratic transfer of power in Pakistan's history.
COMMENTS (38)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
We will not let them arrest him either. We will all come out on the streets and we will then see what happens! Hasn't Nawaz Sharif learnt his lesson yet? Has been removed twice, had to take exile in another land. No wonder everyone thinks he is brainless!
Naya Pakistan Ka Matlab kya?
The arrest warrants issued by the courts is an example of vengeful politics of the ruling party. Obviously Imran did not explicitly or implicitly charge the crowds, it was all a set up. For those who think its bad for imran to say comments that portray him as above the law...well if these laws are being misused by the rulers to get back at their opponents, then they shud be trashed and not even acknowledged. And everyone knows no pakistani police has the guts to arrest a political figure whi has a tremendous following..so #gonawazgo
@Alter Ego: I have searched for reports of fire setting to buildings but have not found any, I did observe many ambulances , and not a great amount of fire engines.
@naeem khan: IT probably suits the PTI chairman to get arrested I do not see any resistance from him, and it may further their cause.
HOWEVER "great precedent from today no criminal can be arrested even if ordered by court" was set a long time ago by our elites by just ignoring the law of the land.
@Rex Minor: @sterry: I like your statement/inference that no one is above the law and also point you towards the link in which the CM is dismissed from any CONNECTION to the MODEL TOWN MASSACRE just because he is the chief minister
http://tribune.com.pk/story/790867/model-town-incident-petition-against-cm-dismissed/
@Imran Mehmood: Well the boy didn't say he's not available for arrest
@AnisAqeel: one is in self denial if one refuses to see the extent of CRONYISM AT LARGE in Pakistan
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: without taking sides, some thing of a constructive nature would be appreciated
@zaman: if attacking the PM house and setting fire to nearby buildings is peaceful, then you are right.
@Asad Malik: If you cannot control a mob then you refrain from incitement. The mob was charged up by Qadri and Imran Khan and encouraged to attack the buildings. Footage is available like in Gullu butt case, now like Gullu Butt, Imran khan and Qadri should be punished to the maximum extent.
PTI has now firmly established itself as the new part of Thugs. They were in a position to usher in an era of decency and rule of law in the country. Naya Pakistan sounds like Somalia or Afghanistan I am afraid.
For this kind of statement Mazari should be arrested and caned with a rubber hunter.
@jk: PTI is bully party of people who think they should be allowed to do anything. Everyone in the world is corrupt except them which allows them to do anything and break any laws! I wish government had guts to arrest Imran Khan and extradite Tahirul Qadri for the damage they did to the country. Tahirul Qadri should be charged for provoking Model Town incident which made brainwashed followers attack police at his command. We all saw the way his obsessed followers were fighting over his used handkerchief as though it were some gold item of value!
police & courts have no time to to arrest Shabaz & shareef who are nominated in murder case of 14 Pat workers .
Now they have become party of bullies.
@zaman: Of course, Imran Khan is above the law according to PTI so it doesn't matter that he is not guilty of destroying government property? Exposes the farce of Imran Khan's Naya Pakistan where anyone who agrees with PTI can do whatever they want but anyone who is against PTI is a criminal. The biggest VIP behavior is from Imran Khan and his cabal.
Many earlier comments talking about the rule of law, just wondering which law we are talking about one for the rulers or the one for the common..as it requires no proof that both are not same in Pakistan
@zaman: No one sir should be above the law, neither the citizens nor the police or the Government functionaries. The cangaroo court of ATC mst be the first casualty followed by the commission to be appointed by the Parliament/Supreme court to investigate the carnage. The democracy allows the peaceful demonstration to its citizens and no democratical elected Government has the right to deny it..
Rex Minor
The anti-terror court is meant for trial of terrorists, not politicians . She has a point ... another example of why the judicial system is broken and has no respect in the international community.
what a strange confusable scenario being created n d country ..? it seems dt all happenings r going n wrong directions nd it clearly xposes d lake of real democratic nd political leadership within Pakistan.. d public r at worse conditions n situations like ds... v appeal to d govt , institutions , mediators , media , judiciary , pol parties etc to sincerely play qck nd positve role for d settlement of current conflict within d country which is d most burning issue n one of Pakistan's internal affairs..
Imran Khan is a saint therefore he can't be arrested.
I am sick and tired of Madari Tamasha going on in Islamabad.
Question to SM: Did NS order arrest or Court? Is IK is above law? Will you defy court order? Is it Naya Pakistan that PTI is above law? How far will you go to defend, the indefensible? Black out of national TV of any country represent coup in progress. Asking people to use ill-legal mean to transfer money. Not to pay legal bill or boycott government order. List is too long to write. I am not Pakistani but watch news very closely. People, who support PTI right now regret in future.
You cannot control a large mob.I would have seconded imran's arrest if he had been directly and physically involved in the storming but that is not the case.SHame on the judicial administration for letting off peeps who murdered in model town and nawaz cronies.DUplicity at its best.
What has the model town incident got to do with anything? Its so stupid the comments here saying nothing happened in the model town incident so what should be done wrap up the courts the LEAs and let every man woman and child do as he pleases? What kind of idiot logic is this
Only in Pakistan can people rejoice in double standards as seen by some of the above brilliant comments. Number of arrests for Model Town victims... NONE. Number of arrest of people who actually went inside the PTV ... NONE. Relation shown between those people in PTV and the PAT/PTI leaders..... still NONE. In Karachi... you get the small people involved in bhatta/kidnapping ignoring all the masters above them. In Punajb you get the people who have no relation to the above incident and do not do anything to the peiple who actually broker the law. Just brilliant.
The demand of NS resignation made by PTI was unconstitutional and now again they are again threatening that law will not be allowed take its course. Enough is enough, the government who has shown lot a patience should act now and take legal action as deemed fit to stop this tamasha.
Highhandedness of the PMLN. Worlds knows the incident, both the leaders came out to stop the mob to prevent attack on PTV.
What has happened to Model Town tragedy? Has Nawaz and Shahbaz who are convicted by the joint report prepared by the government?
This will not work anymore. Sharif dynasty your days are counted.
Every politician is a law into himself. Imran Khan is no different. If a Court ask for his arrest then why does not he as a law abiding citizen surrender himself thereby creating a precedent that will create a Naya Pakistan. This is why most people are suspicious of Imran's motives of Dram oops Dharna politics.
Yes Imran Khan and any of his cronies must not be arrested as they are above the law. Next raid and storm will be on the parliament!!!
Why do Pakistani politician make idiotic statements? If the police has been ordered to arrest Khan then the proper response should be in a court of law.
Democracy at its best. What does PTI has to fear. Let the rule of law take its course.
Well reported: 'Anti-terrorism courts are often used in Pakistan for non-terrorism related cases because they are faster and more efficient than regular courts.'
If the police wants to arrest IK let them arrest him. One must not take the law in his own hand, this is what must differentiate PTI from the status quo parties.
great precedent from today no criminal can be arrested even if ordered by court welcome to naya pakistan