Pakistan: Former PM Imran Khan’s Arrest Warrant Suspended

Amid the clashes between the Pakistan police and PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) chief’s supporters, the arrest warrant for the former prime minister, Imran Khan has been suspended, his lawyer confirmed.

According to the media reports, the warrants were related to his non-appearance in an Islamabad court to answer a case brought by the Election Commission of Pakistan accusing him of not declaring gifts received during his time as premier, or the profit made from selling them.

This week, there were several attempts by the police to arrest the leader in the eastern city of Lahore which ignited a bloody clash between the police and Imran Khan’s supporters.

After a day of legal wrangling in both the city courts, the arrest warrant issued against the 70-year-old PTI chief was suspended.

Imran Khan’s arrest warrant suspended

Speaking to the media on Friday, a senior member of Imran’s legal team, Faisal Chaudhary said, “The Islamabad High Court has suspended a non-bailable arrest warrant.”

“Now, Imran will appear in the court tomorrow,” he said.

Soon after the warrant was lifted, the PTI chief was seen for the first time in days in order to appear in court in Lahore ahead of this week’s clashes.

Moreover, there were dozens of his supporters who mobbed his convoy as it slowly exited the compound, cheering and waving flags of Imran Khan’s PTI party.

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Police Vs Supporters

On Tuesday night, police and paramilitary rangers clashed repeatedly with PTI supporters in the plush Zaman Park neighbourhood, firing fusillades of teargas and dodging rocks thrown by angry crowds.

Since then, PTI supporters have kept a vigil outside his home, wary of police returning to arrest him.

In a video, the former prime minister said that he fears for his life if detained and that authorities want him jailed to prevent him from contesting an election that must be held by October this year.

“We have serious reservations about his security,” Shibli Faraz, Imran Khan’s chief of staff.