Additional sessions judge Zafar Iqbal issued the arrest warrant as Khan failed to appear before the court despite repeated orders.
During proceedings at a court regarding the Toshakhana reference earlier today, Khan’s lawyers requested that Additional Sessions Judge Zaffar Iqbal postpone the hearing by another five days.
However, the ECP lawyer contested the request, saying “it is of no concern to the court where Imran is coming from,” as he questioned that if the PTI chief could appear in other courts, why not this one?
Imran’s lawyer argued that “I am unable to present Imran Khan before the court,” but “if he manages to get out of the judicial complex in time, then we will appear before the court.”
Judge Iqbal was irked by the lawyer’s statement and expressed his dismay that Imran could appear before other courts in the judicial complex but not in this one.
“Charges are going to be framed here, so he should appear here, and then once they have been framed, he may leave,” said the judge. The court then declared Imran’s appearance in court necessary and rejected his lawyer’s request for postponement.