In a major development, PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been ordered by a banking court and an anti-terrorism court (ATC) to appear before the courts in person but separately.
According to the details, a banking court rejected PTI chairman Imran Khan’s plea for exemption from personal attendance and ordered him to appear before the court by 3:30pm in the prohibited funding case.
The verdict was announced by Judge Banking Court Rakhshanda Shaheen who had earlier given Imran Khan a final chance to appear in person to attend the hearing.
Read more: Prohibited funding case: Judge expels journalists from courtroom
The banking court judge said if the PTI chief Imran Khan didn’t present before the court on February 15 or if a new plea is presented, then the court will suspend his bail.
“Imran Khan should appear in the court before 3:30pm today,” Special Judge Banking Court Rakhshanda Shaheen said.
“If he fails to do so, the law will take its course,” she added.
انسداد دہشت گردی کی عدالت کے جج جواد عباس اور بینکنگ کورٹ کی جج رخشندہ شاہین کا عمران خان کو فوری پیش ہونے کا حکم
— Siddique Jan (@SdqJaan) February 15, 2023
Separately, an anti-terrorism court in the federal capital has also summoned the former prime minister in the case registered against him for protesting outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by 1:30pm following its decision in the Toshakhana case which led to his disqualification.
At the previous hearing, the court had granted the PTI chief the last opportunity to appear on Feb 15. During today’s hearing, Imran Khan’s lawyer requested the court time to consult Imran regarding the matter after which the hearing was adjourned till 2:30pm.
عمران خان کی عدم پیشی پر دونوں عدالتوں سے درخواست ضمانت مسترد ہو سکتی ہے
عمران خان کی درخواست ضمانت مسترد ہونے پر ان کی گرفتاری ہو سکتی ہے— Siddique Jan (@SdqJaan) February 15, 2023
Ever since the Wazirabad assassination attempt, Imran Khan has been recuperating at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore and has so far, not appeared before either of the courts. He, however, has filed pleas for exemptions from court appearances on medical grounds which have been rejected.