Pakistan judge says willing to stop

police from arresting ex-PM Khan if he surrender

Islamabad: a pakistani judge on thursday said he could forestall police from arresting former top minister imran khan in a case involving the sale of state presents if the ex-most efficient changed into prepared to surrender himself before authorities.

Police arrived on tuesday outdoor khan’s zaman park residence in lahore with a court-issued order to arrest him, unleashing two days of clashes with supporters who stated they could now not allow their chief to be taken into custody.

Periods court docket choose zafar iqbal had issued the non-bailable warrants following khan’s repeated absence from the previous hearings of the toshakhana reference, involving the sale of state presents given by using overseas leaders whilst khan was high minister. Khan aides say he does now not attend court hearings due to protection threats.

On wednesday early evening, after almost days of violence, the lahore high court docket (lhc) halted the police operation to detain the ex-pm until 10am on thursday, and the islamabad high court (ihc) stated the former most desirable had to method the sessions court docket for the suspension of warrants.

“the court docket wants imran khan to seem earlier than it,” choose zafar iqbal said at some stage in thursday’s listening to of the periods court docket.

“consistent with the law, khan turned into speculated to cooperate with the police. Why did he now not seem within the court docket when the difficulty could have been resolved in a 2d?”

“if khan surrenders now, the courtroom can order the police no longer to damage his dignity,” iqbal said. Meanwhile, the lahore excessive court (lhc) halted the police operation to detain the ex-pm till friday, as numerous courts inside the usa inspect appeals against the warrants out for khan. Pakistan’s election commission located khan responsible within the toshakha case remaining october. A crook inquiry is now underway, and if convicted, khan faces being barred from maintaining public office, a large setback with a countrywide election scheduled for overdue this yr.

Other than the toshakhana reference, the ex-most excellent has been booked in over 70 unique cases on various expenses, which include blasphemy, terrorism and sedition, which consists of the demise penalty in pakistan. He has appeared in court in other cases. Khan says the cases against him are politically prompted which the government denies. On thursday, islamabad police registered 4 new cases in opposition to khan and his near aide, shah mahmood qureshi, in addition to dozens of birthday party supporters over thursday’s clashes, including to his already deep criminal woes.

Khan turned into ousted from energy in a parliamentary vote of no-self assurance last april and has considering the fact that held rallies and protest marches to ask the authorities to announce snap country wide elections. The government says polls might be hung on schedule past due this 12 months. In the meantime, in a main setback, the lahore high court docket advised khan to name off a public rally in lahore scheduled for sunday, bringing up procedural reasons. The former top minister had announced plans to hold a “power display” at the ancient minar-e-pakistan monument in lahore in advance this week.

“in an effort to keep the electricity show, arrangements ought to be made at least 15 days earlier,” justice tariq saleem sheikh turned into widely quoted by way of nearby media as announcing. He additionally asked khan’s celebration to comply with the proper technique and observe the criminal gadget in arranging its rally.