A local court hearing a petition seeking criminal proceedings against former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference has again adjourned the case proceedings till 2pm today (Tuesday) as the PTI leader has not appeared before the court so far, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The court earlier adjourned the hearing till 10am when a junior lawyer of Imran’s legal team was unable to inform the court when exactly the PTI chief was appearing before it. 

Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal is conducting hearing on a petition filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan against Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case. 

PML-N leader Shah Nawaz Ranjha and ECP lawyer Saad Hassan also appeared before the court. 

The additional sessions judge on February 28 issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran for his continuous non-appearance during the court proceedings in the case.

Imran’s lawyers on Monday filed a petition in the sessions court requesting it to cancel its arrest warrants but the court turned down PTI chief’s request and upheld its earlier decision.

However, Imran Khan moved to the Islamabad High Court today (Tuesday) challenging the non-bailable arrest warrants for him issued by the Islamabad sessions court in Toshakhana case. 

On Sunday, in compliance with the court order, the Islamabad Police reached at Imran’s residence in Zaman Park, Lahore to arrest him but the latter dodged the police and they could not apprehend him and went back empty-handed. 

The indictment of Imran Khan was due in the sessions court in the Toshakhana case but the PTI leader is continuously avoiding the court.  

At the outset of the hearing, when Judge Zafar Iqbal inquired about the presence of PTI chairman, a junior lawyer of the PTI legal team, Sardar Masroof, told the court that he had no knowledge whether Imran was coming to court or not, adding that only the team of senior lawyers could apprise the court in this regard. 

The judge expressed his annoyance and chided the lawyer to tell the court clearly if the PTI chief was coming today or not. He remarked why he was wasting court’s time. 

With this, the judge adjourned the hearing till 10am.

However, when the court resumed hearing at 10am, PTI lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat told the court that Imran Khan’s legal team was present in the Islamabad High Court. He requested the additional sessions judge to give hearing date of the case for next week. 

The lawyer said that Imran was not well and a drama was on. 

The ECP lawyer objected and requested the court to cancel bail application and sent notice to the guarantor. 

Judge Zafar Iqbal ordered Imran’s lawyer to first submit his power of attorney, then start giving his arguments. 

He remarked: “why not the court issues some order in the case if the situation continues to remain the same. Imran still has not personally appeared before the court”. 

The ECP lawyer requested the court to adjourn the case till March 9. 

PML-N leader Ranjha told the court that Imran would appear before the Islamabad High court on March 9. 

Imran’s lawyer told the court that his client informed him that it would be convenient for him to appear before the Kuchehry court next week. 

Judge Zafar Iqbal remarked that it meant that Imran was not appearing before his court even on March 9. 

The judge said: “In Imran’s case, law will be equal for everyone. The Toshakhana case will be proceeded after fulfilling all legal requirements.”

After this, the judge again adjourned the hearing till 2pm.

Reporter Ehtisham Kiyani