In a huge setback to former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday, an Islamabad court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against him over his continued absences in the Toshakhana case.
The cricketer-turned-politician is accused of swindling 52 items from the Toshakhana (state gift repository) that he received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as the country's Prime Minister from August 2018 to April 2022.
After the court deferred his indictment on two previous occasions, charges were set to be framed today. But his counsel pleaded in front of the court to exempt him from a personal appearance, besides requesting to postpone the hearing for five days.
Imran Khan's lawyer informed Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal that "I am unable to present Imran Khan before the court."
Irked by the PTI chief's lawyer's argument, Justice Iqbal, said that Khan's presence in court was mandatory and he couldn't postpone the matter yet again.
"Charges are going to be framed here so he should appear here and then once they have been framed he may leave," the judge said.
With Khan's lawyer non-committal about his client's appearance, Justice Iqbal, decided to issue arrest warrants against the 1992 Cricket World Cup-winning captain over persistent non-appearances in court before scheduling the next hearing for March 7.
The Toshakhana case began last August after National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf filed a complaint against Khan over making false declarations regarding the gift items.
Two months later, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) barred Khan from holding public office in the South Asian nation before initiating criminal proceedings against him.
Meanwhile, Khan has filed a plea in the Islamabad High Court against the local court's order and requested it to grant him pre-arrest bail.