An arrest warrant has been issued against former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan for his comments on Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chowdhury at a public meeting on August 20 in Islamabad. It was published on Saturday, Dawn reported.
The arrest warrant was issued by Senior Civil Judge Rana Mujahid Rahim on September 30, reported Dawn.
In a speech on August 20, Imran Khan threatened to file a case against Islamabad’s Inspector General of Police and Deputy Inspector General of Police and said, ‘We will not spare you.’
The former prime minister took exception to ADSJ Chowdhury. He approved Shahbaz Gill’s two-day physical remand at the request of the capital police and said, ‘He should prepare himself that action will be taken against him.’
Shortly thereafter, an FIR was lodged at the Margalla police station in Islamabad on the complaint of Magistrate Ali Javed. The FIR said Imran during his address at a PTI rally ‘intimidated and threatened the senior police officer and a respected lady Additional Sessions Judge’ so that they could not perform their duties and, if necessary, refrain from taking any action against any PTI-related person. .
The magistrate reasoned, Imran’s statement had spread fear and uncertainty among the police, judges and the nation. The peace of the country has been destroyed by the spread of terrorism.
The FIR sought legal action against Imran and demanded ‘exemplary punishment’.
Later in the FIR, sections 186 (offence of obstructing a public servant from discharging public duties), 188 (disobeying orders duly issued by public servant), 504 (criminal intimidation) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code were added.
(01 October)