Ajit Karn
A warrant for the arrest of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan was rescinded on Friday, according to his attorneys, allowing him to end a holdout at his home that sparked violent clashes between supporters and police earlier this week.
A warrant for the arrest of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan was rescinded on Friday, according to his attorneys, allowing him to end a holdout at his home that sparked violent clashes between supporters and police earlier this week.
Khan was removed from office by a vote of no confidence in 2017 and has been embroiled in dozens of legal cases as he campaigns for early elections and a return to office.
The warrant pertains to his failure to appear before a court in Islamabad to address a case brought by the Election Commission of Pakistan, which accuses him of failing to declare gifts received during his tenure as prime minister or the profit made from selling them.
This week, attempts by police to arrest the 70-year-old former international cricket star in the eastern city of Lahore resulted in violent clashes with his supporters outside his residence.
Friday, following a day of legal wrangling in both cities’ courts, the arrest warrant was lifted.
“The Islamabad High Court has suspended the non-bailable arrest warrant,” said senior member of Khan’s legal team Faisal Chaudhry.
“Imran will now appear in court tomorrow”.
Khan left his home for the first time in days after the warrant was withdrawn to appear in court in Lahore for a case related to this week’s clashes.
As his convoy slowly departed the compound, dozens of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party supporters cheered and waved flags.
Overnight on Tuesday, police and paramilitary rangers repeatedly clashed with PTI supporters in the affluent Zaman Park neighborhood, firing tear gas and evading rocks hurled by enraged crowds.
Since then, PTI supporters have maintained a vigil outside of his residence, fearing that police will return to apprehend him.
Khan claims that he fears for his life if he is detained and that the authorities want him imprisoned to prevent him from running in an election that must take place by October of this year.
Shibli Faraz, Khan’s chief of staff, stated on Friday, “We have serious concerns about his safety.”
As the political drama transpires, Pakistan is experiencing a severe economic downturn and risks default if the International Monetary Fund cannot provide assistance.
In addition, the security situation is deteriorating due to a spate of deadly assaults on police that have been linked to the Pakistan Taliban.
Khan has been exerting pressure on the coalition government that replaced him, headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, via social media and public rallies.
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Last year, Khan was wounded in the leg during a political rally; he blamed Sharif for the attempted assassination.
