Arrest warrant issued against former Pakistan PM Imran Khan over 'threats' to female judge - Details

Islamabad: An arrest warrant has been issued against former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan over threatening remarks he had made earlier this year against a judge at a political rally. The development came less than a day after the PTI chief appeared before a sessions court to tender his apology in person to female judge Zeba Chaudhry.

During a rally in Islamabad on August 20, Khan had threatened to file cases against top police officials, election commission and political opponents over the treatment meted out to his aide Shahbaz Gill, who was arrested on charges of sedition. He had also taken exception to Additional Sessions Judge Chaudhry, who had approved Gill's two-day physical remand at the request of the Capital Territory Police, and said she should "prepare herself as action would be taken against her".

Following this, the Islamabad Police on Saturday announced Khan's arrest if he failed to appear before the court in the contempt case. According to local media reports quoting the the Islamabad police, the case had been transferred to a session court after the Islamabad High Court removed charges of terrorism from it.

The arrest warrant had incidentally come within hours of Khan submitting an affidavit, stating that he had realised he "might have crossed a line" at the public rally. He also assured the court that he would never do anything in future that would hurt the dignity of any court and the judiciary, especially the lower judiciary.

Former information minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the PTI would file a plea for the suspension of an arrest warrant issued against Khan.