Imran Khan to be arrested today?

Islamabad police are set to arrest former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan following the directives of Islamabad courts, according to sources cited by Geo News. A sessions court in Islamabad issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khan in a case of threatening a female judge belonging to a court in the federal capital. The PTI chairman was booked for threatening judicial magistrate Zeba Chaudhry and police officers at a rally in F-9 Park last August, to “terrorise” police officers and the judiciary. Civil Judge Rana Mujahid Rahim released the three-page verdict earlier today and issued non-bailable arrest warrants over Khan’s repeated non-appearance. Rather than attending the hearing, the former prime minister filed a plea for an exemption from physically appearing before the judge, requesting permission to join the court proceedings virtually via video link, according to Geo News.

A police party from Islamabad earlier today flew by helicopter to Lahore to arrest Khan, who was ousted as prime minister in April last year, and several decisions were made during a meeting between Islamabad and Lahore’s police officials. The meeting’s participants decided that the Islamabad police would be completely supported and it would be ensured that the capital’s cops reached Khan’s Zaman Park residence without hindrances. “Before Islamabad police leave for Zaman Park, they will contact Khan’s chief security officer,” the sources added.

Two courts have issued Khan’s non-bailable arrest warrants in separate cases, however, he has repeatedly failed to appear before them and instead held a rally in Lahore, where he announced a “historic” rally this Sunday. In connection with the Toshakhana case, the capital police had also arrived on March 5 in Lahore, but were told that Khan was not at his Zaman Park residence, resulting in them leaving empty-handed, according to Geo News. A district and sessions court earlier today also restored the former prime minister’s non-bailable arrest warrant in the Toshakhana case. The Islamabad court had earlier reserved its verdict on a petition filed by the former prime minister seeking an exemption from the hearing of the case. Last week, the IHC suspended the non-bailable arrest warrant for Khan issued by the local court issued due to the PTI chief’s continuous absence.