ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said on Tuesday a high court had issued notices to the top Punjab police and administration officials in a contempt case after a raid was carried out on Khan’s Lahore residence, adding the court hearing would take place next week.
Khan’s residence became the site of clashes between the police and his supporters last week after an Islamabad district and sessions court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against him in a case involving the sale of state gifts.
However, the Lahore High Court instructed the police to stand down after two days of intense fighting, though dozens of PTI activists were rounded up by the police from Khan’s Zaman Park residence on Saturday while he was on his way to the federal capital for court appearance.
Khan’s party announced soon after the incident it would file a contempt petition, as the government said the raid was carried out to clear the “no-go area” around the former prime minister’s residence where it also claimed to have seized inflammable material.
“Notices have been issued to [Punjab] chief secretary, IG [inspector general of police], CCPO [capital city police officer] and chief minister,” said PTI vice president Chaudhry Fawad Hussain after the court proceedings. “The next hearing will be on Tuesday after these people file their responses.”
Hussain said the judge had taken a very clear stance on the matter and emphasized it was vital to maintain rule of law in the country under all circumstances.
He added that the judge had also expressed anger over a campaign against the judiciary, saying he would launch contempt proceedings against those who were behind the movement.
The PTI vice president said the high court judge had also stopped Khan’s arrest in any new case until the authorities submitted a list of all cases filed against him to date.
The former prime minister’s legal team also requested the court to grant him “omnibus bail” to prevent the government from detaining him without court orders. Khan’s lawyers also pointed out there were too many cases against their client.
“We will start arguing in this case from tomorrow and it will be a very important case,” Hussain said.
The ex-premier also got protective bail from a separate high court bench in two terrorism cases filed against him in Islamabad after clashes broke out between the police and his party supporters at the Judicial Complex where he went to attend the proceedings of a district court in the case involving the sale of state gifts.
Khan was scheduled to be indicted in the matter, though the court proceedings had to be adjourned after fighting intensified between the two sides.
