It isn't about today, it is for the 18th.
He had appeared in ALL court hearing before the attack.
After the attack even, he appeared in ALL court hearing in G11 complex. Out of the 70 odd cases against him, and multiple requirements to be present in person, he has been present in almost all bar a few, and not gone ONLY to the past 3 (I believe, or is it 2) hearings of this Toshakhana case. And he isn't making a pointless reason. The PTI has written to the IGP about the specific security threats, and his lawyer asked the judge to either move the hearing to zoom or to move it to the G11 complex from F8.
As for the rallies part, he did not get out of the car, that's what his party says.
And as for the being surrounded by bodyguards and his own people, that did not stop the shooter in Gujranwala, neither did it stop BB from being killed.
State had taken all security back from him months ago, I will try and find the link for that news as well.
Point being, this is a blatant case of politically motivated action, nothing else. Aaj tak kabhi production warrant par aisa response nhn dekha kisi bhi wakeel who I have heard or talked to.