LAHORE; A local court in Lahore on Friday summoned former prime minister Imran Khan and issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Shibli Faraz in connection with a case related to an alleged assault on Islamabad police officers.
The case, originally registered at the Race Course Police Station, pertains to a confrontation that occurred nearly two years ago outside Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore. The incident unfolded during a tense standoff between law enforcement personnel and PTI supporters amid growing political unrest.
Imran Khan, who was removed from office through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022, has since been embroiled in numerous legal battles. Charges against him span a wide spectrum, including corruption and terrorism. He has remained incarcerated at Adiala Jail since August 2023, following convictions in multiple cases.
At Friday’s hearing in Lahore’s Cantt Kutchery, Judicial Magistrate Suhail Rafiq expressed displeasure over Shibli Faraz’s repeated absence despite being summoned multiple times. The court consequently issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for the PTI senator. Simultaneously, the magistrate directed prison authorities to ensure Khan’s appearance at the next hearing and adjourned the proceedings until July 30.
This development comes in the wake of several anti-terrorism court verdicts earlier this week, which handed down stringent sentences to various PTI leaders over their alleged roles in the violent protests of May 9, 2023.
On Tuesday, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) sentenced senior PTI figures including Dr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed to 10 years imprisonment each for their involvement in the May 9 incidents. Former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, and Afzal Azeem Pahat were also convicted in the same case and received similar sentences.
In contrast, the court acquitted several prominent party leaders, including former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Hamza Azeem Pahat, Rana Tanveer, and Aizaz Rafiq, citing insufficient evidence.
Meanwhile, another ATC in Sargodha delivered a parallel verdict on the same day, sentencing Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmed Khan Bachar, MNA Mohammad Ahmed Chattha, and several PTI workers to 10 years in prison for their alleged involvement in a vandalism case tied to the May 9 riots.
The May 9 protests were triggered by the arrest of Imran Khan and resulted in widespread clashes between PTI supporters and law enforcement, with several incidents of property damage, including attacks on military installations. The government and security agencies labeled the unrest a “coordinated campaign” against state institutions, leading to a nationwide crackdown on the party’s leadership and workers.
The legal proceedings remain ongoing, with PTI leaders continuing to challenge the charges and claiming political victimization. However, the courts maintain that the verdicts are based on evidence and due process.
