Imran, 150 PTI activists booked for obstructing Islamabad police

Case registered for stopping police team from compliance of court's arrest warrants against PTI chairman

LAHORE:

A new case has been registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and 150 party activists for obstructing Islamabad police in implementing a court’s order against the former prime minister in the Toshakhana case, police said.

The case, which also nominates Imran's chief of staff Senator Shibli Faraz, was registered on Monday at the Race Course police station on the complaint of Station House Officer (SHO) Nadeem Tahir.

The development comes a day after PTI workers and supporters of the party chairman prevented the Islamabad police from entering his Zaman Park residence in Lahore amid high drama.

However, the police were able to serve the notice on the PTI chief, handing it to his chief of staff for “compliance” of the arrest warrants issued by the sessions court of the federal capital in the Toshakhana case.

On March 1, the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran in the Toshakhana case, hours after the PTI chief secured bail from an anti-terrorism court (ATC) and the banking court in two other cases.

Imran was required to appear before Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal. On his non-appearance in the case, the court rejected his application for exemption from personal attendance and issued the arrest warrants.

Also read: Toshakhana case: Court dismisses Imran's warrant cancellation plea

On Sunday, a team of the Islamabad police led by Superintendent of Police (SP) City Hussain Tahir reached Zaman Park for the compliance of the warrant. Senator Faraz, reportedly, told the police that Imran was not available.

At Imran’s residence, the policemen were met with angry PTI activists, who were carrying clubs and other objects. As the police tried to approach the entrance of Imran’s residence, they offered resistance.

The PTI supporters also raised slogans in Imran’s favour until Faraz approached the team and spoke to them.

The police team remained in the surroundings of Zaman Park for over an hour after meeting Faraz.

Senator Faraz received the notice and assured the police team that "we will comply with all legal processes".

SP Tahir later told the media that Faraz had assured them that Imran would ensure his appearance before the court.

However, a district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday dismissed the PTI chairman's request to cancel his non-bailable warrants in the Toshakhana case after he failed to show up in court.

The former ruling party has decided to approach the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to cancel the arrest warrants issued for Imran.