Photo: Collected-
Metropolis Desk-
Imran Khan, ex-prime minister of Pakistan, neglected to show up in court on Tuesday in Islamabad to address questions on allegations of corruption. The no-show appears to have been a legal ruse to prevent arrest.
Khan was obliged to appear in person to answer allegations of selling state gifts while in government. The hearing was scheduled by Judge Zafar Iqbal. The same judge issued a warrant for Khan’s arrest last week, but only the administration of Khan’s successor, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has the authority to do so.
Nevertheless, Khan’s legal team filed a petition with a high court on Tuesday asking for the suspension of the arrest order for him and extra time to show up for a pre-trial hearing before judge Iqbal.
Aamer Farooq, the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court, heard arguments from Khan’s attorney and the prosecution before suspending the arrest warrant and directing Khan to report to Iqbal on March 13. It was uncertain if Khan would follow the most recent court order.
The 70-year-old former cricket star and current opposition leader is facing numerous legal challenges, including allegations of terrorism brought by the police. He says the legal snafu has been staged by the government in an effort to discredit him but has so far escaped incarceration.
Khan was removed from office by a no-confidence vote in Parliament in April, but he has asserted—without offering any supporting documentation—that his removal was unlawful and the result of a plot by Sharif and Washington. These accusations have been refuted by the governments of Pakistan and the United States.
