An Islamabad police team arrived at PTI chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore on Sunday to arrest the former prime minister after non-bailable arrest warrants were issued for him for persistent absences from court hearings in the Toshakhana Reference.

In a series of tweets, the police said that the operation was being conducted with the cooperation of the Lahore police.

It stated that the PTI chief was “avoiding” the arrest, adding that the superintendent of police had “gone into Imran’s room but he was not present there”.

“Legal action will be taken against those obstructing the execution of court orders,” the police added.

Immediately after police teams arrived at Zaman Park, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry called all party workers to reach Imran’s residence, saying that “any attempt to arrest Imran Khan will worsen the situation”.

Terming the “imported” government as the “country’s enemy”, Fawad warned the PDM not to push the country into further crisis and act sensibly.

Footage on television show police officials in Islamabad Police uniform as well as Punjab Police being held back by PTI workers outside the Zaman Park residence.

It is pertinent to mention that Islamabad Additional Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Zafar Iqbal had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the former prime minister last month over persistent absences from court.

The warrant dated Feb 28, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, stated that Imran had repetitively failed to appear before the court. “The accused is making a pick and choose for courts and cases and this case is not included in his priority.”

“The accused be summoned through a non-bailable warrant of arrest for March 7,” it added.

Toshakhana Reference

Imran was set to be indicted in the Toshakhana Reference on Feb 28, but his lawyer had requested ADSJ Iqbal that he be exempted from the hearing because he had to appear in several other courts. His indictment was deferred twice before.

The judge had then issued arrest warrants for Imran and adjourned the hearing till March 7.

The reference, which alleges that Imran had not shared details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana (during his time as the prime minister) and proceeds from their reported sales, was filed by lawmakers from the ruling coalition last year. On October 21, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had concluded that the former premier had indeed made “false statements and incorrect declarations” regarding the gifts.

The Toshakhana is a department under the Cabinet Division that stores gifts given to rulers and government officials by heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries. According to Toshakhana rules, gifts/presents and other such materials received by persons to whom these rules apply shall be reported to the Cabinet Division.

The watchdog’s order had said Imran stood disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution.

Subsequently, the ECP had approached the Islamabad sessions court with a copy of the reference, seeking proceedings against Imran under criminal law for allegedly misleading officials about the gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as the prime minister.

Source: Dawn