A court in southwestern Pakistan on Thursday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a case of inciting government institutions.
The Quetta police on Monday registered a case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Khan under sections 153A, 124A and 505 of the Electronic Crimes Act 2016 on behalf of a civilian, Abdul Khalil Kakar, for “spreading hatred”. After his speech on Sunday against state institutions and their offices.
A judicial magistrate court in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, took up the case and issued a non-bailable arrest warrant. The court directed the authorities to take 70-year-old Khan into custody and produce him before the court.
Khan heavily criticized state institutions after an unsuccessful attempt by the police to arrest him from his residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park area over the weekend. The police raids began after an Islamabad court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Khan in the Toshakhana case.
Khan has been in the crosshairs for buying gifts, including an expensive Graff wristwatch, which he obtained as a premier at a discounted price from a state depository called Toshakhana, and selling them for a profit.
Khan, facing dozens of cases, said last week that at least 76 cases have been registered against him so far.
Earlier on Thursday, the Lahore High Court (LHC) declared inadmissible a petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against Khan for his alleged campaign against the institution of judiciary.
Justice Shujaat Ali Khan, in the judgment on a petition filed by Naeem Qamar, remarked that the PTI chief’s statements prima facie appear to be against the judges belonging to Islamabad.
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