Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s legal challenges are increasing day by day instead of decreasing. Now Lahore’s Judicial Magistrate has issued another summons against him. This summons has been given to him to appear in court on 30 July, in which he is accused of attacking Islamabad police. This is allegedly a case of the time when a tense situation was created in Islamabad between PTI supporters and law enforcement.
The court has ordered to send this summons to Imran Khan through jail authorities as he is currently in judicial custody in multiple cases. These summons are not just a formal procedure but it marks the beginning of a new phase to legally face the serious charges levelled against him.
Not just Imran Khan, senior and prominent PTI leader Shibli Faraz has also been caught in this case. The court has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him which means if he comes in police custody he will not immediately get the right to bail. Judicial Magistrate Sohail Rafique issued the warrant while pronouncing the written verdict and Race Course Police Station has been ordered to arrest them.
The case is part of a larger legal crackdown being carried out against the top leadership of PTI. According to the FIR, the case states that Imran Khan and his supporters not only obstructed law enforcement but also allegedly attacked the police. As a result, public order was disturbed and the authority of law enforcement was directly challenged.
Legal experts say that if Imran Khan is found convicted in this case as well, then both his legal and political position could become even weaker. On the other hand, PTI supporters are calling it political revenge and are saying that Imran Khan is being intentionally targeted.
If Shibli Faraz is arrested, it will be another setback for PTI – especially at a time when the party leadership is already fighting on multiple legal fronts. Now it remains to be seen whether PTI lawyers challenge this warrant or decide to surrender.
