COURT ORDERS IMRAN KHAN TO APPEAR BEFORE INVESTIGATION OFFICER IN PROHIBITED FUNDING CASE
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Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was directed by an Islamabad banking court on Thursday to guarantee his appearance before the investigation officer (IO) in the illegal financing case being prosecuted against his party.

In the bail request, the PTI leader's attorneys pleaded with the court to prevent Khan from being detained by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the case involving financial irregularities in the party's finances.

The instruction was given today as the court announced that it had reserved judgement over Khan's request for an extension of pre-arrest bail.

The prosecutor's attorney urged the court for a two-week delay for medical reasons at the beginning of the session, while Special Prosecutor Rizwan Abbasi asked the court to reject the former premier's appeal.

Meanwhile, Khan's attorney asked for the PTI leader to be excused from the hearing today.

The prosecutor insisted that since the attempt on Khan's life during the PTI long march event in Wazirabad in November, he has been politically engaged.

Prosecutor Abbasi argued that the court should deny the man's request for an exemption by stating that "he is in charge of the political matters yet doesn't show up in court."

He asked the court to order the investigating officer to visit the PTI leader at his Zaman Park mansion in Lahore, claiming that Khan had not been in court or cooperated with the inquiry.

When questioned about Khan's absence from investigations, his attorney stated that despite "his eagerness," there were several reasons why he couldn't attend before the investigation officer.

He said that Khan was hurt during an assassination attempt and that he would come before IO as soon as his medical condition permitted it.

Prosecutor Abbasi said that the investigation officer was unable to go to Lahore for questioning at this point.

Rizwan asked the court to reverse its order granting Imran Khan temporary release, claiming that Khan only appears on television and never comes in court.

The plea by Khan's attorney to question the former premier at his Zaman Park mansion in Lahore was denied by Judge Rakhshanda Shaheen.

The judge said, "The court will not intervene, the investigation officer can conduct investigations anywhere and however he wants.”

The judge also requested that Khan's attorney explain to the court why the temporary bail should not be withdrawn.

She ordered Khan to join the investigation in order to guarantee his appearance before the IO regardless of the circumstances and postponed the hearing to January 31.