A court in southwestern Pakistan on Thursday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against former prime minister Imran Khan in a case of incitement against state institutions.
The Quetta Judicial Magistrate ordered police to arrest former Prime Minister Imran Khan and produce him before Court in a case registered on Monday, The Dawn reported.
Quetta police on Monday registered a case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Khan under Sections 153A, 124A, and 505 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, on behalf of a citizen Abdul Khalil Kakar, for 'spreading hate' against state institutions and their offices following his speech at his Zaman Park residence on Monday.
The complainant accused that the former premier’s statement was tantamount to “destroying public peace and order” and alleged he had harmed the credibility of the institutions, The Dawn reported.
Khan heavily criticised the state institutions after a botched attempt by police to arrest him from his residence in the Zaman Park area of Lahore on the weekend. The police raid unfolded after a court in Islamabad had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Khan in the Toshakhana case.
Khan has been in the crosshairs for buying gifts, including an expensive Graff wristwatch he had received as the premier at a discounted price from the state depository called Toshakhana, and selling them for profit.
Khan, who has been facing dozens of cases, stated last week that so far at least 76 cases have been registered against him.
Earlier on Thursday, the Lahore High Court (LHC) declared a petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against Khan for his alleged campaign against the institution of judiciary inadmissible.
Justice Shujaat Ali Khan in the verdict on the petition filed by Naeem Qamar remarked that the statements of the PTI chief, prima facie, appeared to be against the judges who belonged to Islamabad.
(With PTI inputs.)
