Temporary relief for Imran Khan as Balochistan High Court suspends arrest warrants for 2 weeks

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• Mar 11, 2023 | Dhupali Das

A non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against Khan by a local court in a hate speech case pertaining to inciting the public against state institutions...

Digital Desk: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan received a temporary relief after the Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Friday suspended a two-week arrest warrant that had been issued against him by a local court in a Quetta case, reported Geo News.

A non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against Khan by a local court in a hate speech case pertaining to inciting the public against state institutions.

The suspension comes as a Quetta police team arrives in Lahore to arrest the PTI chairman as per court order, reported Geo News.

Following a case registered at the Bijli Ghar police station, a Quetta judicial magistrate issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for the PTI leader. Imran Khan was charged with defaming the government's organizations. On the complaint of a citizen named Abdul Khalil Karak, the Balochistan police filed a case against the PTI chairman.

Justice Zaheer-Ud-Din Kakar of the BHC heard the plea filed on behalf of the PTI leader by Iqbal Shah of the Insaf Lawyers Forum (ISF).

The plea maintained that the offence was not committed within the jurisdiction of the Bijli Police Station, where the case was filed, and asked the judge to dismiss the FIR.

While suspending the warrant, Justice Kakar summoned the Balochistan police head, the SP legal, and the station house officer of the Bijli Police Station. The hearing was then postponed for two weeks, according to reports.

A day earlier, a local court in Quetta issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for the PTI leader in a case filed against him under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016. (PECA).

The arrest warrant was issued by a judicial magistrate, who instructed authorities to bring the former prime minister to court.

In his speech on Sunday, the PTI leader lashed out at "state institutions" after a team of Islamabad police came at his Zaman Park residence to arrest him in the Toshakhana case.

The former prime minister, who was ousted in April last year, vented his anger while speaking to party workers and supporters at the Zaman Park residence in Lahore who took part in the "Jail Bharo Tehreek" campaign.

In his fiery speech, the PTI chairman stated that he would not allow the country to kneel before any institution or individual.

According to The News International, Imran Khan is facing a total of 37 cases brought against him across the country.

These include legal disputes, police and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) cases, as well as actions taken against the PTI leader by the Electoral Commission of Pakistan (ECP).