After a daylong high-stake drama, the Islamabad sessions court on Saturday evening adjourned hearing in the Toshakhana case against PTI chief Imran Khan till March 30, and suspended his arrest warrants in the case till then.
The court also accepted Imran’s attendance in court in compliance with the summons issued to him for today.
The court has sought arguments on March 30 about the admissibility of the case.
Earlier, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former premier, along with a convoy, reached the federal capital to attend the hearing of the Toshakhana case at the judicial complex.
As the day progressed with PTI Chairman Imran Khan being unable to enter the courtroom owing to the chaos and commotion at the entrance to the complex, it transpired that he may not be indicted today.
Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal, who was hearing the case, decided to mark Imran Khan’s attendance at the gate of the judicial complex, and allow him to return.
He also issued instructions to the court staff in this regard.
However, a staff member told the court that they were not being allowed to get Khan’s attendance signatures. PTI leader Shibli Faraz and the court staff accompanying him were stopped on the way.
The court then summoned the Islamabad police DIG. On the court’s orders, SP Dr Sami was dispatched to get Imran Khan’s signatures.
PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi claimed a short while later that Imran’s signatures had been obtained and that he was departing from the judicial complex. However, the court could not verify the claims.
However, the SP returned to the court, saying he could not obtain the signatures, and does not know where the judicial file marking the attendance is.
Imran’s counsel Barrister Gohar contended the SP’s version, claiming the sign had been obtained, and the police official got the file from him to present in court.
Thus began an exchange of accusations as to who possessed the file, and if the signatures had been obtained.
Meanwhile, PTI chief Imran Khan departed from the judicial complex for Lahore.
Imran’s lawyer Babar Awan had requested the judge to adjourn the hearing for today at least, considering the chaotic, turbulent situation outside the complex.
